Kinkajou: Potos flavus
In the Wild
Description:
Medium-sized with a thick and woolly, honey-brown coat
Have elongated bodies with short legs, a rounded head with large eyes, a small muzzle
and round ears
Size: 32.3-52.4 in (820-1,330 mm)
Weight: 4.4-10.1 lb (2.0-4.6 kg)
Habitat and Range:
Distributed throughout Central and South America from Mexico to Central Brazil
Live in a variety of forest habitats including tropical dry forest, secondary forest,
Amazonian rainforest, Atlantic coastal forest, tropical evergreen forest and forests of
the savannah region in Suriname
Are rarely found in palm jungle, cloud forests or thorn forests
Diet:
Omnivore: Primarily eat fruit such as figs, but supplement their diet with eggs,
hatchlings and small vertebrates, as well as insects (particularly ants and termites), and
nectar and flowers depending on seasonal availability
Although considered part of the carnivore family because of their large canine teeth,
kinkajous mostly eat fruit
Adaptations:
Have very large eyes for seeing in low light, and rely on exceptional senses of hearing
and smell to navigate at night
5-inch-long tongue helps in reaching nectar, honey and insects
Have a long, fully prehensile tail, agile clawed fingers and fully reversible hind feet which
aid in climbing and balancing
o Are particularly well known for hanging upside-down while feeding, using their
prehensile tail and hind legs for support while holding small fruits in a onehanded grasp
o Are able to turn their feet backwards to run easily in either direction along
branches or up and down trunks
o Have extremely flexible spines for maneuvering on tree limbs – this flexibility,
which allows for a rotation of 180° between the pelvis and head, is a unique trait
that distinguishes kinkajous from their close relatives, the coatis and raccoons
Lifespan:
About 20-30 years, recorded up to 39 years
Ecosystem relationships:
Predators: Jaguars, ocelots, tayras (arboreal weasel-like animals), boas, eagles (Isidor’s
and harpy eagles) and margays (small, spotted cats)
08/07/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Kinkajou: Potos flavus
o Their primary predator is humans – kinkajou meat is considered a delicacy in
some cultures and hundreds are exported from South America each year
o Kinkajous defend themselves by clinging to their attacker with all 4 limbs and
inflicting wounds with their powerful canine teeth
Active seed dispersers and pollinators
o Consume large quantities of seeds, most of which pass through their digestive
system intact
o In one study, seeds that were passed by kinkajous germinated faster than those
that were cleaned or intact
o Field observations have found that kinkajous will occasionally feed on nectar
using their long tongues, and in the process collect pollen on their fur that they
disperse to other plants
Reproduction:
Reach sexual maturity after about a year and a half
Breeding season varies geographically – are able to breed year-round, but seem to
roughly synchronize into a breeding season that is probably tied to local fruit production
Exhibit both a polygamous and polyandrous mating system
o Two males, a single female and offspring often comprise a social group
o The system is considered polygamous because dominant males mate with the
female of their home group, as well as any other females living on the periphery
of the home territory and unrelated to another group
o The system is considered polyandrous because the dominant male occasionally
allows the subordinate male to mate with the home group female
After a gestation period of about 4 months, females give birth usually to 1 and rarely to
2 offspring, normally in the hollow of a tree
o A baby kinkajou weighs about 7 oz. and measures about 12 in. long
o Offspring are blind and completely helpless until their ears and eyes open after
1-2 weeks
o Offspring begin eating solid food after about 1-2 weeks
o By 7 weeks, offspring can hang by their tails
Female kinkajous are the primary providers of parental care – males do not provide any
direct care but are not aggressive toward young and share fruiting trees and day dens,
and will occasionally play with the pups
o A mother kinkajou will nurse her newborn for about 8 weeks
o After weaning, she will continue to look after her offspring until it becomes fully
independent at about 4 months of age
Activity:
Nocturnal and arboreal: Spend the day sleeping in dens, often in a hole in a tree, and
usually with members of their home group; at dusk members spend time grooming and
socializing before separating to forage
08/07/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Kinkajou: Potos flavus
Were thought to be a solitary species that rarely exhibited sociality, but behavioral
studies have revealed complex social interactions, particularly in mating – social groups
usually contain two males and a female but may include juveniles and sub-adults as well
Maintain strict territorial boundaries through scent marking
o Scent marking is important for sexual, territorial and social communication –
these often involve marking tree branches using mandibular, throat and
abdominal glands
o The size of the territory seems to be dictated by the amount of area needed for
food – male kinkajous are only able to defend a territory large enough to provide
for a single female and her offspring
o It has been proposed that one of the benefits of a polyandrous mating system is
that the subordinate male can help with territory defense, namely scent marking
and threat vocalizations
Are vocal animals
o Though seldom seen, they are often heard screeching and barking in the tropical
forest canopy
o Have a wide range of vocal calls that includes barks, chirps, squeaks, grunts,
whistles, clicking, and the most common kinkajou vocalization, a two-part snortwheedle
o To show aggression, kinkajous hiss and scream
Other “fun facts”:
In the carnivore family Procyonidae, which includes raccoons and coatis
o Were originally thought to be a primate – were placed in the order primates
as Lemur flavus
Potos flavus translates to “golden drinker”
Are sometimes called the “honey bear” since they have been seen raiding beehives
In Belize, kinkajous are called "night walkers”
Kinkajous and binturongs are the only two mammalian carnivores that have a prehensile
tail
Conservation Status and Threats:
Listed on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern – they are widely distributed and are
somewhat adaptable to human land-use change
o However, as this animal is highly dependent on trees, deforestation is thought to
be a major threat to kinkajou populations
Kinkajous are found in protected areas throughout their range and are protected under
CITES Appendix III in Honduras
Common threats
o Habitat destruction caused by humans, particularly deforestation, has decreased
the range and population size of kinkajous
o Kinkajous are also harvested for their pelts and meat
08/07/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Kinkajou: Potos flavus
o Have been known to be a nuisance on coconut plantations where they eat
immature fruits
At the Zoo
Kayla was acquired from a private education facility in Virginia in 2007. She was born around
1995 and weighs approximately 8 pounds (3.5 kgs).
What We Can Do
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution
Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – buying something imported
illegally supports the black market by sustaining demand
o Ex. Rosewood is still being illegally imported from Madagascar despite bans on
logging because people are still buying it
Opt for fake fur over real fur when buying coats and other clothing and accessories
o All of our shopping choices can have an impact on the environment and wildlife
so when available opt for recycled and local products
o Research responsible companies that do not use animal based products or
testing
Do your research before buying a pet
o Because they are wild animals, kinkajous do not make good pets, no matter how
cute you might think they are!
o Kinkajous have a painful bite and can be very destructive to a home in the
middle of the night, when they are most active
o Make sure you know how to properly care for any animal before you decide to
buy it as a pet
References:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Potos_flavus/
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/summary/41679/0
http://www.marylandzoo.org/animals-conservation/mammals/kinkajou/
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-kinkajou.html
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/kinkajou/
08/07/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore