Which Amazon Rainforest monkey is famous for using stones to crack open hard nuts?

The bearded capuchin is the Amazon Rainforest monkey famous for using stones to crack open hard nuts.

Bearded capuchins, also called black-striped capuchins, are highly intelligent New World monkeys found across parts of South America, including the Amazon. Some populations place palm nuts or other hard foods on an anvil-like surface and strike them with stones until the shells break.

This behaviour is a form of tool use, but it is not automatic in every individual. Young monkeys learn by watching and practising, and local traditions can differ between groups. The choice of stone, anvil and food reflects the available environment.

The species is often confused with other capuchins because common names and classifications have changed. Capuchins are distinct from spider monkeys and howler monkeys, which have different body shapes and feeding strategies. Their problem-solving ability makes them important subjects in studies of animal culture and cognition.