Kinkajou
Procyonidae potos flavus
WILD STATUS
Least Threatened.
DISTRIBUTION
Southern Mexico to Southern Brazil.
SIZE
Length: body is approximately 42-57 cm (16-22 ”) and tail is 40-57cm (15-22”)
Weight: 2-3 kg (4-7 lbs).
HABITAT
The rainforest canopy.
REPRODUCTION
Kinkajous reach maturity at 18 to 20 months and have one baby (occasionally 2), after a gestation of 112 to 118 days.
DIET
Although they are classified as a carnivore (due to canine teeth), their diet consists primarily of fruits, flowers, nectar and honey. They have a 12.7 cm (5”) tongue prefect for reaching deep into plants to gather nectar. While doing so, pollen sticks to their faces and is then spread to the next plant, making them an effective pollinator. Kinkajous have been known on occasion to eat insects, eggs, hatchlings and small invertebrates.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
- Kinkajous look a little bit like monkeys but are actually closely related to the raccoon family.
- They have a very long, prehensile tail which they use it as a fifth limb, for balance and to hold into branches.
- They are agile tree climbers and can turn their feet in the opposite direction and run backward just as fast as forward. This helps them go down trees headfirst.
- Kinkajous are nocturnal and spend the daylight hours in tree hollows.
- They have slightly webbed feet and very acute hearing.
- They have scent glands at the corner of their mouth, abdomen and throat which allow them to mark their territory and travel routes.
- Threats to them include being hunted for food as well as for their fur.
ANIMAL FACT SHEET
To download this page and also get a full page photo of the Kinkajou click here for a PDF.
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