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Kinkajou

Kinkajou
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Procyonidae
Genus : Potos
Species : flavus

Length : Up to 44in (112cm) including tail
Weight : 3-7lbs (1-3kg)

IUCN Status : Least Concern

The Kinkajou looks an awful lot like a Primate, or maybe some sort of weird Weasel. But they are, in fact, members of the same family that contains Raccoons and Coatis. Kinkajous are found in South and Central America, where they reside in tropical forest habitats.

Kinkajous are nocturnal, and have large eyes that help them to see at night. They sport prehensile tails which are fantastic for getting around in the canopy, and feet that they can turn backwards. They are the only members of their family with prehensile tails, and their feet allow them to climb about easier and move up and down treetrunks quickly.

Kinkajous are actually pretty social. They live in groups and are are more often heard than seen, due to their loud and frequent vocalizations. They are omnivores that feed off of fruits and small vertebrates during the night, and by day they sleep in tree cavities. Kinkajous are also sometimes called "Honey Bears" because of their habit of raiding bees nests.
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