The Mighty Kinkajou

The kinkajou is a tropical rainforest mammal related to olingos, coatis, raccoons, the ringtail and cacomistle. They are nocturnal and love to hang from trees while reaching for fruits to eat. Their thick, wooly fur helps to keep them dry. Also, their 5-inch-long tongue allows them to lick honey or nectar from inside flowers and beehives. Unfortunately, due to global warming and deforestation, rainforests might soon clear up and become dry grasslands or savannas. Kinkajous will need to acquire some physical adaptations to help them survive in their new environment. Some adaptations include having a smaller tongue because of the lack of flowers to drink nectar from, small tail from the decrease in trees to hang from, and smaller body size and long limbs to run and easily fit into underground burrows for protection from predators. Lastly, their teeth would become broader and flatter to munch on grass and plants.