| Range: |
Southern Mexico to Brazil |
| Habitat: |
Tropical forests |
| Conservation Status: |
Common |
| Scientific Name: |
Potos flavus |
This curious, active little mammal is a member of the raccoon family. By night, it moves easily through the treetops of the Central and South American rainforests; by day, it curls up in a tree branch to sleep. The kinkajou rarely bothers to descend to the ground. One key to its tree-dwelling lifestyle is the animal’s long grasping (prehensile) tail, which helps it hold onto branches. Kinkajous are primarily fruit eaters, though they also eat flowers, insects, eggs and even honey. Their sweet tooth has earned them the nickname “honey bear."
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