Kinkajous Potos flavus

Kinkajous are native to Central and South America. They can be found in tropical forests from Southern Mexico to Southern Brazil and spend most of their life in the upper and middle canopy of the tropical forest.

The kinkajou (Potos flavus), also known as the honey bear (a name it shares with the Sun Bear), is a rainforest mammal of the family Procyonidae related to the olingo, ringtail, cacomistle, raccoon, and coati. It is the only member of the genus Potos. Kinkajous may be mistaken for ferrets or monkeys, but they are not related.

Like raccoons, kinkajous' remarkable manipulatory abilities rival those of primates. The kinkajou has a short-haired, fully prehensile tail (like some New World monkeys), which it uses as a "fifth hand" in climbing. It does not use its tail for grasping food. Scent glands near the mouth, on the throat, and on the belly allow kinkajous to mark their territory and their travel routes. Kinkajous sleep in family units and groom one another. While they are usually solitary when foraging, they occasionally forage in small groups, and sometimes associate with olingos.

An average adult kinkajou weighs 2–3 kg (4–7 lb). Average adult body length is 40–60 cm; in addition to body length, average tail length is 40-55 cm. The kinkajou's woolly fur consists of an outer coat of gold (or brownish-gray) overlapping a gray undercoat.It also has short legs with sharp claws.

A nocturnal animal, the kinkajou's peak activity is usually between about 7:00 PM and midnight, and again an hour before dawn. During daylight hours, kinkajous sleep in tree hollows or in shaded tangles of leaves, avoiding direct sunlight. They like to lick honey and eat fruit pulps using their long tongues. They feed mostly on flowers, sprouts, insects, little mammals, nuts and eggs.

Many kinkajous are hunted for the illegal pet trade for their fur (to make wallets and horse saddles) and for their meat. This arboreal mammal is not an endangered species, though it is seldom seen by people because of its strict nocturnal habits.

Our Guests

Benjamín and Cindy

Benjamin

Cindy