NASUA. POTOS. 49fl 



tipped with pale yellowish; inner surface of ears, light facial mark- 

 ings, sides of neck and shoulders, and proximal two-thirds of fore 

 limbs white; flanks and ventral surface brighter than back; dark 

 facial markings pale chocolate brown; tail pale brownish yellow; 

 feet dark brown." 



Measurements. Total length, 1200; tail vertebrae, 515 (flat skin). 



One species and eight subspecies of the next rather aberrant genus 

 are known. Unlike its relatives of the previous genera, the Kinkajou 

 has a prehensile tail, which it can coil round a branch and render its 

 position in a tree most secure. With its hind feet it is very dexterous, 

 and can with them easily place food in its mouth ; and although there 

 are no opposable thumbs on the hands, and its fingers are webbed for 

 almost their entire length, these peculiarities offer no obstacles for 

 the expert use of these members. It is a rather small animal, the 

 body being only about a foot and a half in length, head broad and 

 round, limbs short, and the tail long. It walks with the soles of both 

 hands and feet upon the ground, but the heels are raised. It is 

 arboreal, a facile climber, and when descending a tree or branch 

 comes as often head first as in any other manner. It is fond of 

 insects, which it draws from their retreats with its long and flexible 

 tongue, and is very fond of the honey of the wild bee. Nocturnal in 

 habits, it avoids the light, and is rarely seen by day, but becomes very 

 active at nightfall. It has a gentle disposition, and is easily tamed, 

 although in the wild state it is said to be fierce enough. Two of the 

 subspecies only are found within the limits embraced in this work. 



95. Potos. Kiiikajous. 



T 3-3. p i-i. p 3-3. Vf 2-2 _ -j< 

 L -3=3> U M ; F '3=3' M '2^-3f>. 



Oldfield Thomas. On the Geographical Races of the Kinkajou. 

 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 7th Ser., ix, 1902, p. 265. 



Potos Cuv. & Geoff., Meth. Mamm., in Mag. Ency., n, 1795, p. 

 187. Type Viverra caudivolvula Schreber. 



Cercoleptes Illiger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm. et Av., 1811, p. 127. 



Skull short, upper surface flat; molars have crowns flat, tubercles 

 slight; tongue long, extensile; ears and limbs short; body long; tail 

 long, tapering, prehensile. 



KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES. 



A. Tail long, prehensile. PAGE 



a. Color pale, grayish yellow P. f. aztecus 500 



b. Color brownish yellow and black P. f. chiriquensis 501 



