Besides the presence of the two dominant individuals, we soon noticed that a capuchin group is divided into several subgroups. These were and are still today very stable. We have been able to observe several forms of such relationships in the past. These alone are highly stable. Augmentation of the groups by additional births has shown us that young grow into their mother's subgroup and become members of that subgroup.
Kinship thus has special importance.
Examining individual social partners more closely, we find that females are prone to maintain contact with females and males with males. These preferences become more pronounced with advancing age. However, they can be detected even at the age of six months. Social contacts among males and among juveniles or between males and juveniles, are primarily play contacts. Males and juveniles will also play with males and juveniles of other subgroups.