What are some fun facts about Kinkajous?

What are some fun facts about Kinkajous?

Kinkajous are sometimes called honey bears because they raid bees’ nests. They use their long, skinny tongues to slurp honey from a hive, and also to remove insects like termites from their nests. Kinkajous also eat fruit and small mammals, which they snare with their nimble front paws and sharp claws.

How many years do Kinkajous live?

The average lifespan of a kinkajou in the wild is around 20 years. In captivity, they have been known to live up to 30 years, however the average lifespan in captivity is between 23 and 25 years. Kinkajous are typically between 16 and 30 inches long with a long tail that ranges from 15 to 22 inches.

Are Kinkajous monkeys?

Looking a bit like a monkey, kinkajous are often mistakenly called primates. They do have many traits and features like those of primates. But kinkajous are carnivores in the family Procyonidae, which includes raccoons, coatis, ringtails, and olingos.

Are kinkajous friendly?

Also known as honey bears, kinkajous have become popular in the exotic pet trade. They are generally friendly, playful, and curious when raised in captivity. However, they are easy to startle and might become aggressive with their owners.

Are Kinkajous poisonous?

Kinkajou bites are particularly dangerous as their saliva contains a sticky, species-bacterium – ‘Kingella potus’, first identified by Dr. Paul Lawson of the University of Oklahoma.

What can Kinkajous not eat?

In captivity, kinkajous typically live 20-25 years and will go through a “terrible two” stage starting roughly around 2 years old and hopefully ending around year 5 or 6….Items to avoid feeding kinkajous are:

• Dairy.
• Citrus.
• Strawberries.
• Avocados.
• Onions.
• Cauliflower and Broccoli.

Are Kinkajous good pets?

Kinkajous. These small, rainforest-dwelling animals may be cute — but making one your pet is a bad idea. Kinkajous are wild animals that have been known to scratch, bite, and injure their owners. Beyond the health risk for humans, owning a kinkajou is bad for the animal, too.

How smart are kinkajous?

Although there are kinkajous bred specifically for the pet trade, they are not domesticated animals and their behavior can range from affectionate and cuddly when young to aggressive and difficult to handle as adults. They are also very intelligent animals who will get into anything they can if unsupervised.

How big is the tail of a kinkajou?

Kinkajous grow to an average body length of 17 – 22 inches, their tail is 16 – 22 inches in length in addition to the body. Kinkajous do not use their prehensile tails for grasping food. The prehensile tail distinguishes kinkajous from the related olingos who are small procyonids native to the rainforests of Central and South America.

Where do Kinkajous spend most of their time?

Kinkajous sleep in hollow trees. They spend most of their lives in the branches of trees, using their prehensile tail to grasp branches. Kinkajous are sometimes kept as pets. Their personality tends to be playful and curious, and they are generally tame.

What makes the kinkajou different from other carnivorans?

The kinkajou is distinguished from olingos by its prehensile tail, its foreshortened muzzle, its extrudable tongue, and its lack of anal scent glands. The only other carnivoran with a prehensile tail is the binturong of Southeast Asia .

What’s the difference between an olingo and a kinkajou?

The prehensile tail distinguishes kinkajous from the related olingos who are small procyonids native to the rainforests of Central and South America. Olingos are arboreal and nocturnal and live at elevations from sea level to 2,000 metres. Olingos lack prehensile tails.