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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: Monkeys Use False Alarms to Scam Food?


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Like someone shouting "What's that?!" to distract an opponent, tufted capuchin monkeys seem to be using false alarms to scare other monkeys away and steal their food, according to research published in June 2009. (Above, a yellow-breasted capuchin munches on a leaf in October 2006.)

The apparent deception could be intentional, researchers say, or it could be a misinterpreted outburst of frustration.

Photograph by Lisa Maire/Keystone/AP