White-headed capuchin Behavior Social structure
Female capuchins have linear dominance hierarchies. Males are typically dominant to females. The alpha male is always easy to discern, but there are sometimes ambiguous rankings among subordinate males. Males cooperate in coalitions against potential predators, and also in defense of the group against other males. Male emigration to a new troop typically occurs about every 4 years, so most males are in constant danger of having to defend themselves against other groups of males.