Published on Sunday, June 22, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The kinkajou (Potos flavus) is a nocturnal, tree-dwelling mammal native to the rainforests of Costa Rica. It can be found along the Central Mountain Range and on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

The name kinkajou comes from the French quincajou, itself derived from an Algonquian term for the wolverine.

Locally, the kinkajou is known by several names, including "martilla" (due to its resemblance to the marten), "mico león" (lion monkey), "perro de noche" (night dog), and "mico de noche" (night monkey), according to Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC).

Though the kinkajou primarily inhabits humid tropical forests, sightings have also been reported in dry forests in Guanacaste and the northern regions of Alajuela and Limón. Its range extends beyond Costa Rica, stretching from southern Mexico to Brazil, where it is often called the “little honey bear.”

Physically, the kinkajou has a rounded head, large eyes, a short, pointed snout, short limbs, and a long prehensile tail that it uses for balance and climbing, functioning much like a fifth limb. Its total body length, including the tail, ranges from 32 to 52 inches. The tail alone measures between 15 and 22 inches, and the animal typically weighs between 1.4 and 4.6 kilograms (3 to 10 pounds).

Coat coloration varies throughout its range. The upper parts of the body and tail are often tawny olive, wood brown, or yellowish tawny, while the underparts tend to be buff, tawny, or brownish yellow. Some individuals also display a distinct black stripe down the center of the back.

Despite belonging to the order Carnivora and having sharp teeth, the kinkajou is omnivorous and primarily frugivorous. About 90% of its diet consists of fruit, particularly ripe figs, making it a key player in seed dispersal. The remaining 10% includes leaves, flowers, nectar, herbs, insects (especially ants), bird eggs, and small vertebrates.

Kinkajous are almost entirely arboreal, spending most of their lives in the treetops. Their agility and manipulatory skills are considered to rival those of some primates, and their fully prehensile tail allows them to move easily through the forest canopy.

While the kinkajou is not currently listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), populations are at risk due to habitat loss and hunting.

SINAC manages Costa Rica’s national parks and protected areas.

The kinkajou is just one of Costa Rica’s many remarkable wild species. Another notable example is the danta, the largest wild land mammal in Costa Rica. Often referred to as a “living fossil,” the tapir is one of the few surviving species from the Ice Age still roaming the region.

Wild Costa Rica offers readers a window into the stunning biodiversity that makes this country one of the most ecologically rich destinations on the planet.

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Have you ever spotted a kinkajou in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com