Mammals

Kinkajou

Scientific Name

Potos flavus

Body Weight

2.0-4.6 kg

Body Length

Head and body: 45-76 cm
Tail: 39-57 cm

Habitat

Forests

Diet

Fruits, flowers, nectar, leaves and some insects

Fun Facts

The tongue of kinkajous can grow over 12 cm long, which is useful for feeding on nectar and insects.
Kinkajous can hang upside down from tree branches with their highly prehensile tail and support themselves on their hind legs. This allows them to reach their food in trees.

Distribution

Central America and northern South America, such as countries like Honduras, Colombia and Brazil

Threats & Conservation

Threats

Urbanisation & Infrastructure
Overexploitation of Biological Resources

Human disturbance and habitat destruction are driving kinkajous away from home. Deforestation has shrunk their range and reduced their population. Kinkajous are also captured for the pet trade as well as hunted for their meat and pelt. Kinkajous feed on fruit and nectar, and hence play an important role in the forest ecosystem as pollinators and seed dispersers. If they decline, plants may be affected, which in turn threaten kinkajous.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

Least Concern

CITES

Appendix III

Conservation Regulations

Protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.

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