Hannibal
Kinkajou (Potos flavus)

About me

Basic Info	Home:	Lovin' the vibe in Central and South America.
	Size:	I'm not as small and cuddly as people think, although I'm still quite cuddly! My mate Kenny is about 60cm long, he's a big chap – add the tail length of about 50cm and you're looking at one large cheeky chappie.
	Favourite foods:	Although I'm partial to the odd ant here and there and I've got lovely sharp teeth for munching, most of the time I have to make do with fruit, particularly figs – got to keep those energy levels up! Actually, I do enjoy a wee bit of nectar from flowers as well, such a sweet tooth!
	Environment:	The tree is our friend, no doubt there. Actually, most of the time I just roam about on my own in the evening looking for a wee nibble – I”m so lonely!
	Sounds like:	BARK! SCREECH!

Further Info	Kinkajous have few predators. This is due to their canopy-dwelling and nocturnal habits, though eagles and jaguars have been observed eating them. Unfortunately humans are their worst predator because of their soft fur and some say their meat is particularly tasty. Females take full responsibility of care of their offspring, with the father playing no role. In the wild, the female gives birth to one baby usually in the spring or summer and it emerges with its eyes shut, staying that way for approximately one month. It develops quickly, however, and by the end of its second month it is already able to hang upside down from its tail! Lifespan is unknown in the wild, but evidence from captive animals suggests that kinkajous are quite long-lived. Kinks play a very important role in the ecosystem; they are active seed dispersers and pollinators. Because they eat a lot of fruit and the seeds pass through their digestive tract intact, their poo will contain the seeds of, say, the figs recently eaten by them. These seeds will then be re-planted in the soil on the forest floor so that another fig tree can grow. Further, when a kinkajou drinks nectar from flowers with its long tongue a pollen ‘moustache’ forms around its nose which is then transferred onto the next flower.
Useful links	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkajou

Further Info

Kinkajous have few predators. This is due to their canopy-dwelling and nocturnal habits, though eagles and jaguars have been observed eating them. Unfortunately humans are their worst predator because of their soft fur and some say their meat is particularly tasty.

Females take full responsibility of care of their offspring, with the father playing no role. In the wild, the female gives birth to one baby usually in the spring or summer and it emerges with its eyes shut, staying that way for approximately one month. It develops quickly, however, and by the end of its second month it is already able to hang upside down from its tail! Lifespan is unknown in the wild, but evidence from captive animals suggests that kinkajous are quite long-lived.

Kinks play a very important role in the ecosystem; they are active seed dispersers and pollinators. Because they eat a lot of fruit and the seeds pass through their digestive tract intact, their poo will contain the seeds of, say, the figs recently eaten by them. These seeds will then be re-planted in the soil on the forest floor so that another fig tree can grow. Further, when a kinkajou drinks nectar from flowers with its long tongue a pollen ‘moustache’ forms around its nose which is then transferred onto the next flower.

Useful links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkajou

Junglebook

Hannibal Kinkajou (Potos flavus)

About me

Hannibal
Kinkajou (Potos flavus)