A capuchin monkey has been born at Chester Zoo.

The buffy-headed capuchin is a critically endangered species and one of the world's 25 most endangered primates.

The baby was born in August and is now three months old, bringing the number of buffy-headed capuchins in the zoo to eight.

In the wild the monkeys are hunted for meat and collected as pets, and they have also declined in numbers because of the destruction of their habitat. It is estimated that 80% of their natural range has been lost.

Capuchin monkeys are social animals who live in groups and communicate through barks, growls, screams, chatters, trills, twitters, purrs, whistles and warbles.

There are usually more males than females in the groups, and males are slightly larger and heavier than females.

The sex of the baby will not be known for several weeks.

Assistant curator of mammals, Dr Nick Davis, said: "The buffy-headed capuchin is one of the world's rarest species of primates. In the past they were abundant in the Atlantic rainforests of eastern Brazil but sadly they're now on the verge of disappearing from the wild because of severe destruction to their habitat and intense hunting.

"We're pleased to say though that our new youngster is doing extremely well and is now confidently out and about, being carried by mum."