Fauna
Mammal

Kinkajou

Potos flavus

Also known as Honey Bear, Night Walker, Martucha

Kinkajous navigate the tropical canopy with remarkable agility, using fully prehensile tails that function like fifth limbs to anchor themselves while foraging upside down. They feed heavily on wild figs, fruit pulp, and flower nectar, extending a slender, five-inch tongue into blossoms and acting as important canopy pollinators. Family groups spend the daylight hours sleeping together in hollow tree trunks before dispersing after dusk with sharp, high-pitched barks and chirps.

NocturnalArborealFrugivore
Kinkajou reference1 / 7
Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFigs, Floral Nectar, Insects
Predators
  • Harpy Eagle
  • Ocelot
  • Tayra
ThreatsCanopy deforestation, forest fragmentation, and illegal pet trade
HabitatsLowland tropical rainforests, cloud forests, and gallery forests
Life span20–25 years (up to 40 years in captivity)
Classification
  1. OrderCarnivora
  2. FamilyProcyonidae
  3. GenusPotos
  4. SpeciesPotos flavus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Sharp teeth can deliver severe, infection-prone bites if cornered; observe strictly from a distance.
Why it is dangerous
Bites deliver deep puncture wounds that frequently transmit serious bacterial infections such as Kingella potus.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a tawny golden-brown coat, rounded low-set ears, reflective nocturnal eyes, and a muscular prehensile tail.
What to do
Never attempt to touch or catch an individual; step back if one descends near ground level or viewing platforms.
Responsible observation
  • Night Spotting: Scan fruiting fig trees after sunset using a red-filtered spotlight to locate eye shine.
  • Listen for Calls: Tune your ear to shrill whistle-like barks and chattering vocalizations echoing from high branches.
  • Maintain Space: Keep your distance and avoid trying to attract or pet them around ecotourism lodges.
Related species
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