Black Tufted Capuchin Monkey (Cebus apella)

The black-tufted capuchin monkey (Cebus apella) is a member of the Cebid monkey family (Cebidae), which includes capuchin and squirrel monkeys. They are medium-sized, omnivorous monkeys, native to tropical and sub-tropical South America. They are not known to have naturalised outside this range. As a result, there are no reported consequences of establishment, although the impact on Tasmanian fauna through diet and competition could be significant. Capuchins also have the potential to cause damage to agriculture, and have the capacity to carry significant human diseases.

The black-tufted capuchin is considered a 'serious' threat under the Vertebrate Pest Committee's threat categorisation and is a 'controlled animal' under the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002. This risk assessment concludes that black-tufted capuchin are a moderate threat to Tasmania and proposes that imports be restricted to those license holders approved for keeping moderate threat species.