Kinkajou (English spelling)

It is an animal of the Procyonidae family of the Carnivora order of the Mammalia class. It is found from southern Mexico to Peru and Brazil. Its head and body length is 42-58 cm, and its tail length is 40-56 cm. Its head is round and its ears are small. Its hind legs are longer than its forelimbs. Its tail is long and it can wrap itself around objects like a spider monkey to support itself. Its fur is short, soft, and dense. Its body is brown, with some individuals being lighter and lighter in color. It lives in the trees of forests and is active at night, sometimes traveling together in groups. Its staple diet is fruit, insects, eggs, and honey, and its long tongue helps it to forage. Its gestation period is just under four months, and it gives birth to one or, occasionally, two babies in a tree cavity. It is often kept in zoos, and there have been cases of it being kept for as long as 23 years. Its name comes from the name given in the Brazilian region.

[Iya Katsunori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱食肉目アライグマ科の動物。メキシコ南部からペルー、ブラジルにかけて分布する。頭胴長42～58センチメートル、尾長40～56センチメートル。頭は丸く、耳は小さい。前肢より後肢が長い。尾は長く、クモザルのように物に巻き付け、体を支えられる。毛は短く柔らかで、密生する。体は褐色で、個体により濃淡がある。森林の樹上にすみ、夜間活動し、数頭が行動をともにすることもある。主食は果実で、昆虫、卵のほか、蜂蜜(はちみつ)も食べ、長い舌が採食に役だつ。妊娠期間は4か月弱で、1頭まれに2頭の子を樹洞内で出産する。動物園で飼育されることも多く、23年間の長期飼育例がある。名は、ブラジル地方での呼び名に由来する。

［祖谷勝紀］

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