Classification
Distribution Physical
Characteristics Diet Reproduction Behavior
Habitat Conservation Links
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Bassaricyon
Species: gabbi
Olingos are found in the rainforest of Columbia, Costa Rico, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.
The Olingo has short fur that is light brown with cream on the undersides and neck of the animal. They are 35 to 48 cm (14 to 19 in ) long, not including their tails, which can measure up to 48 cm (19 in). They weigh 10 to 15 kg (22 to 33 Ib). The tails of olingos are not prehensile and are decorated with dark rings that do not close on the underside of the tail. Because of the color of its fur and the similar build olingos are often confused with kinkajous. The olingos characteristic features are a round head, which is flattened on top, the small round ears, and a pointed muzzle with a dark gray nose. The eyes have large pupils and the iris is a cinnamon color, the eyes contract horizontally.They have 40 sharp teeth in a structure of molars, premolars and canines. They also have sharp curved claws.
Olingos feed at night. They mainly feed on fruits, insects, lizards, and small warm-blooded animals. On trees bearing fruit several Olingos may gather together with kinkajous, opossums and night monkeys in feeding communities.
Olingos have no definite breeding season. Mating in olingos is initiated by the males. The males emit long, penetrating calls after detecting the presence of a female in heat. If the female is willing mating will begin. Only the female vocalizes while copulating. Numerous copulations take place, on after another. Soon after the two separate.
After a gestation period of 72-75 days, the female gives birth to one young. Although the females have two mammary glands a litter of two has never been reported. The newborn is blind and has closed ears. It has sparse short hair that is blackish-gray, slightly wavy on the back and lead-colored on the underside. A broad, clearly defined light-gray band runs from the ear across the forehead. The newborn measures almost 22 cm (9in.) long and weighs 55 g (2 oz.). The ears and eyes open during the first two weeks. At six weeks the young eats solid food as well as mothers milk. The young are mature at about 2 years of age.
There is not a lot of information on wild Olingo behavior. They tend to be hard to study because they inhabit thick forest. Olingos are arboreal, nocturnal and solitary. They sleep in tree cavities. Olingos are excellent climbers and jumpers, they can leap up to 3 meters, from limb to limb without difficulty. Olingos do scent mark but it is not known why they do this. The primary enemies of olingos are wildcats and snakes.
Olingos inhabit the rainforest of Central and Northeastern South America at elevations from sea level to 2,000 m. They like to stay in the treetops of dense forest and they rarely climb down out of the tree.
Olingos are Rare. IUCN has them listed as a rank of lower risk.
For more information, contact Small carnivore TAG education liaison
Page created by Stephanie Kutzer, Fall 2002
Pensacola Junior College ZooTech Student