Kinkajou

Potos flavus

Kinkajous are known as the “honey bear” of Central and South America. They are arboreal, living the majority of their lives in the trees. Although they have evolved to live this lifestyle, they are not closely related to other tree-dwelling mammals such as primates. This tropical rainforest mammal is part of the family Procyonidae, the same family as raccoons. Kinkajous range from east and south of the Sierra Madres in Mexico, throughout Central America to Bolivia east of the Andes and southern Brazil. These animals are nocturnal, with its peak activity occurring during the evening. During daylight hours, kinkajous sleep in tree hollows or shaded tangles of leaves.

Kinkajou are classified in the order Carnivora and has sharp teeth, with its omnivorous diet consisting mainly of fruit. They are also equipped with a prehensile tail and dexterous sharp claws that make hanging from the trees to grab fruit even easier! Kinkajous have a slender five-inch tongue that assists in obtaining fruit and to lick nectar from flowers. When eating softer fruits they hold it with their forepaws, then scoop out the succulent pulp with their tongue! In the wild this plays an important role in seed dispersal, scattering fruit seeds among the tropical forest floors.