Kinkajou

Kinkajou
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Mammal
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Procyonidae
Genus:	Potos; Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire & Cuvier, 1795
Species:	P. flavus
Binomial name
	Potos flavus; (Schreber, 1774)
	Kinkajou range

The kinkajou is a mammal of the family Procyonidae and it is related to the raccoon, coati, olingo, raingtail and cacomistle. It lives in the rainforests of South America and Central America, and spends most of its time on trees. It can eat both meat and plants and has a gripping tail that can be used like an arm. It is an endangered species because it is being hunted for its fur, meat and to be illegally sold as pets.

Appearance

Although kinkajous may look like monkeys, lemurs, koalas, opossums, bears or ferrets, they are not related to those animals. An adult kinkajou's weight is between 1-3 kg (3-7 lb). Its body can grow up to 43-56 cm long (17-22 in) and its tail usually measures between 16-22 cm (41- 56 in). The kinkajou has woolly fur consisting of an outer golden (brownish-gray) coat and another gray coat underneath.

References

↑ Kays, R., Reid, F., Schipper, J. & Helgen, K. (2008). "Potos flavus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 January 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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[iucn-1] Kays, R., Reid, F., Schipper, J. & Helgen, K. (2008). "Potos flavus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 January 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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