Kinkajou

 

(Potos Flavus)

Belizean Creole: Nightwalker, Honey bear

 

Despite sharing several physical characteristics with monkeys, kinkajous are actually related to racoons and coatimundis. Kinkajous are solitary but often form treetop groups and share social interactions such as reciprocal grooming. They sleep during the day in a hole or fork of a tree but can also use the remains of a termite’s nest as a place to rest. They mark their territory using scent glands, which are at the corner of their mouth, their throat, and their abdomen. Their huge eyes give them excellent vision in the dark forests after sunset. 

Kinkajous belong to the order Carnivora. Even though kinkajous are mostly frugivores, on rare occasions they prey on eggs, hatchlings and small vertebrates. 

Mother kinkajous usually give birth to only one offspring, but there are rare times when two young are born.  They are born with their eyes tightly shut, but will have vision after ten days and by seven weeks they are able to hang upside down

Fun Facts

• Kinkajous are quite noisy with their hisses, barks, and high-pitched squeaks. They can cause quite a commotion on the forest canopy during the night
• Kinkajous are also called honey bears because they sometimes raid bees’ nests for honey 
• A kinkajou’s tongue is about 5 inches long
• Kinkajous cannot see differences in colour
• The kinkajou is one of the two species in the order Carnivora with a prehensile tail

Belize Zoo Trivia

Fuzzy” the kinkajou enjoys laying back and indulging in sweet treats such as watermelons, and bananas. He is a highlight of the “Belize Zoo at Night” Tour.