Cranio-Dental Anomalies in Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus spp. and Sapajus apella) From the Northern Andes and Central America.

Morphological variation comprises differences among individuals of the same species, but when such variation is rare or unusual, it is considered an anomaly. We examined 280 adult specimens (208 Cebus spp. and 72 Sapajus apella), finding cranio-dental anomalies in 24.5% of Cebus spp. and 19.4% of Sapajus apella, with higher frequencies in males. The specimens represent 10 species (C. albifrons, C. capucinus, C. cesarae, C. cuscinus, C. imitator, C. leucocephalus, C. malitiosus, C. versicolor, C. yuracus, and S. apella) across eight countries in Central and South America. The most frequent anomaly was the unusual extension of the frontal bone between the parietal bones, followed by the displacement of teeth and the presence of the bregmatic fontanel bone. It is important to encourage the reporting and investigation of cranio-dental anomalies in non-human primates, as these efforts will contribute to a better understanding of both normal and pathological conditions.