Kinkajou

All Subspecies:

• Potos flavus chapadensis 

• Potos flavus chiriquensis 

• Potos flavus flavus

• Potos flavus megalotus 

• Potos flavus meridensis 

• Potos flavus modestus 

• Potos flavus nocturnus 

How long has this species been in existence: 

• 18-28 million years ago (Ma), end of the Oligocene

Closest living relative to this species: 

• Racoons (Procyon)

3 ancestors of this species:

• Racoon

• Bears

• Wolves (Canids)

Physical description of the animal (with at least 3 pictures):

• round head, large eyes, a short pointed snout

• long prehensile tail

• Short rounded ears

• Coat: tawny olive, wood brown, and yellowish tawny

• Black to brown snouts

• The claws are sharp and short

Point key characteristics of species:

• Prehensile Tail

• Extrudable Tongue

• Small rounded ears

Size: Head and body: 17 to 22 inches; tail: 16 to 22 inches TOTAL: 32-52 in

Weight: 3 to 10 pounds

Life Span: 20-40 years

Differences between Males and Females:

• Females are generally smaller than males

• Females take care of young and males have been seen playing with pups 

How much rainfall: 

Tropical rainforests receive precipitation amounts of 60 to 160 inches a year

Plants: 

• Vines, orchids, ferns, palms

• Brazil nut tree and the kapok tree

Animals:

• Thousands and thousands of insect species

• Birds, bats, gliders, and butterflies

• White-tailed hawks and harpy eagles

• Kinkajous

Temperature: 20°C (68°F) to 25°C (77°F).

Terrain: 

• Mainly flat lowland plains 

• Small rock hills 

• Some highland valleys criss-crossed by streams.

What exactly does it eat: Omnivorous 

• Insects (EX. termites)

• Fruit

• Small mammals (+ frogs and bird eggs)

How often does it eat: 

• Opportunistic feeder

• Peak activity from 7PM-12AM again an hour before dawn

• Consumes about 80% fruit and 20% protein

• Roughly 2 cups of food

How does it get it’s food:

• Foraging

• Traversing the canopy

• A set of 36 sharp teeth

• Long skinny tongues

Any special foods:

• Honey

Live in packs or solo:

• They are typically solo but are found in social groups

Roles within community:

• Mothers provide all direct care

• Both sexes and all ages play, fight and groom

Male or Female led groups:

• Neither

Individuals that make up the group: 

• A female and her young are sometimes joined by one or more males.

How do they interact with each other:

• Small groupings often den together and may be seen feeding

• Kinkajous sleep in family units and groom one another

• They are usually solitary when foraging, but occasionally forage in large groups

How often do they mate:

• Once a year

How many mates do they have:

• Males will copulate with multiple partners

• Females mate around once a year 

Time of year for mating:

• Year round reproduction

• No seasonal mating

Mating rituals:

• Male will follow and approach Female

Number of offspring produces at a time:

• 1 infant, rarely 2

• Gestation, 98-120 days

Any unique characteristics of their mating:

• Nothing outstanding

Stages of development: 

• Eyes open after about a week

• Start eating solid foods at 8 weeks

• Hangs upside down at 2 months

• 4 months independent

• Body fully grown around 6 months

How old before sexual maturity: 

• 1 to 2 years old

Activities and environment of stages:

• Young dangles from mothers mouth as she climbs

• Mothers hold infancy to her chest when at rest

• Seek out sleeping spots prior to dawn in hollow drunks or dens

• Juveniles range typically center within their mothers home range

Difference between males and females:

• Nothing apart from small difference in size

Predation: 

• Jaguars

• Ocelots

• Eagles

• Humans

Sexual Competition:

• Other males, sometimes interrupt each other

Disease:

• Blastomycosis is an infection caused by a fungus called Blastomyces

Other causes:

• Lice and ticks

• Skin infections

Inter-species – within the species:

• Competes with other kinkajous for territory

Intra-species – with other species:

• Olingos (Usually only when food is scarce)

What do they compete over:

• Food

• Territory

Affect of invasive species:

• Not a huge issue for these little creatures

• The canopy is mostly unaffected by the variants of invasive plants and aquatic species

What is the rating?: Least Concern

Population: No published estimates

Population Trend: Decreasing

What impacts have occurred:

• Habitat destruction caused by humans has decreased the range and population size of kinkajous

• Kinkajous are also harvested for their soft pelts and flavorful meat

Potential Future impacts:

• Habitat annihilation

• susceptible to over-harvest

How long have humans been interacting with species:

• Fist reports date back to 1770s

• 250 years

Efforts being made to minimize impacts:

• Tougher fines for human encroachments, regulating deforestation for industries – such as tea and coffee plantations – and preventing species trafficking.