Kinkajou
Potos flavus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnívors)
- FamilyProcyonidae (Raccoons, Coatis, and Allies)
- GenusPotos
- SpeciesPotos flavus (Kinkajou)
The kinkajou (/ˈkɪŋkədʒuː/ KING-kə-joo; Potos flavus) is a mammal of the family Procyonidae, a relative to olingos, coatis, raccoons, and the ringtail and cacomistle. It is the only member of the genus Potos and is also known as the honey bear (a name shared with several unrelated species). Though kinkajous are arboreal, they are not closely related to any other tree-dwelling mammal group (primates, mustelids, etc.). Native to tropical rainforests of Mexico, Central and South America, this mostly frugivorous mammal is seldom seen by people because of its strict nocturnal habits. However, it is hunted for the pet trade, its skin (to make wallets and horse saddles), and its meat. The species has been included in Appendix III of CITES by Honduras, which means that exports from Honduras require an export permit, and exports from other countries require a certificate of origin or of re-export. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Kinkajou sighting in Tambopata National Reserve, based on 10 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tambopata National Reserve
South American Coati
Nasua nasua
Beddard's Olingo
Bassaricyon alleni
Crab-eating Raccoon
Procyon cancrivorus
Giant Otter
Pteronura brasiliensis
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
Tayra
Eira barbara
Jaguar
Panthera onca
Jaguarundi
Puma yagouaroundi
Margay
Leopardus wiedii
📅 Monthly Probability
🌙 When They're Spotted
Most active during nighttime hours (6pm–6am) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Kinkajou in Tambopata National Reserve?
About 8% of wildlife watchers report a Kinkajou sighting in Tambopata National Reserve, based on 10 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Kinkajou in Tambopata National Reserve?
August has the highest sighting rate for Kinkajou in Tambopata National Reserve in our monthly data.