Kinkajou

Potos flavus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassMammalia (Mammals)
OrderCarnivora (Carnivorans)
FamilyProcyonidae (Raccoons, Coatis, and Allies)
GenusPotos (Kinkajous)
SpeciesPotos flavus (Kinkajou)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Tikal National Park

1 Verified sightings at Tikal National Park From 2019 to 2026

278 Verified sightings across all 36 parks From 2019 to 2026

🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted during nighttime hours (6pm–6am)

About the 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. They may live up to 40 years in captivity.

The common name kinkajou derives from French quincajou, based on the Algonquian name for the wolverine. It is similar to the Ojibwe word gwiingwaʼaage, perhaps from a Proto-Algonquian *kwi·nkwaʔa·ke. Its other names in English... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Tikal National Park

LC Endemic

Nasua narica

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

LC Endemic

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Panthera onca

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Puma concolor

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

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

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
2	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	~30%
3	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
4	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
5	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
6	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
7	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
8	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
9	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
10	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
11	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
12	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
13	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
14	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
15	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
16	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
17	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
18	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
19	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
20	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
21	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
22	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	Insufficient data
23	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
24	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
25	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
26	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
27	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	Insufficient data
28	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
29	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
30	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	Insufficient data
31	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
32	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
33	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
34	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
35	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
36	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data

← Back to Tikal National Park

Kinkajou

About the Kinkajou

Closest Relatives at Tikal National Park

White-nosed Coati

Gray Fox

Jaguar

Mountain Lion

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found