The kinkajou is a nocturnal mammal of the rainforest that is sometimes called a "honey bear" because of the colour of its coat. The kinkajou lives in the warm tropical forests that extend from southern Mexico to brazil. Although the kinkajou looks as if it could be a monkey it is a member of the raccoon family. The kinkajou has a long body, short legs and a thick coat of soft golden brown fur that has no markings. Its body, not counting its tail, is about half a meter long and its head is rounded with short, low ears, a pointed nose and large eyes. Its tail is slightly longer than its body and has a prehensile tip which is capable of grasping things.
The kinkajou will sometimes eat other animals but it generally feeds only on fruit. Its favorite fruit is wild figs and the kinajou uses its long tongue to extract the fruits ripe, juicy, pulp. The kinkajou spends most of its life in the treetops and can swing from its tail to grab fruit that is out of reach, which you can see in he picture to the left. During the day the kinkajou sleeps, curled in a tight ball and remains hidden in thick foliage or inside a hollow tree.
Other Interesting Web Sites on Kinkajous
The Kinkajou
Encarta - The Kinkajou
Animals of the Caribean Gardens - The Kinkajou
Go back to Animals in the Rainforest
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