Mammals · Carnivora · Procyonidae

Kinkajou

Potos flavus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Nicknamed the honey bear for its fondness for nectar, it is one of the few carnivores with a fully prehensile tail, which it uses as a fifth limb to move through the canopy.

Weight

1.4 kg – 4.6 kg

Size

40 cm – 60 cm

Lifespan

24 years

Diet

Frugivore

Feeds mainly on fruit.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

12countries61parks6same family

Fun facts

  • alimentaciónIt has a very long tongue suited to feeding on nectar, and acts as a night-time pollinator for several tropical trees.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type
Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment
Tropical rainforest of Central and South America, living almost entirely in the canopy
Birth weight
150 - 200 grams
Size at birth
Blind and thinly silver-furred at birth
Sexual maturity
Male: 1.5 years | Female: 2-2.5 years
Gestation / incubation
112-120 days (~4 months)
Litter / clutch size
1 young (rarely 2)
Lifespan in captivity
Documented record of up to 38.4-41 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge; Blue Planet Biomes; Animals.net; SDZWA Library Fact Sheet; Lamar University; Animal Spot; Animalia.bio; Animal Diversity Web; AnimalHub

Best time: All year round in neotropical forests, at night; it is found in trees laden with fruit, above all fig trees.

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Where to watch it

Parques y spots de buceo donde se ha documentado esta especie — se muestran 10 de 61 documentados.

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Kinkajou — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

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