FaunaHub

Olingo (genus Bassaricyon)

MammalRainforestNocturnal

Olingo (Bassaricyon gabbii), a slender, golden-brown nocturnal rainforest mammal.

Bushy-tailed olingo (Bassaricyon gabbii).

Image: Jeremy Gatten, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Olingos (genus Bassaricyon) are slender, soft-furred, golden-brown mammals of the forests of Central and South America — members of the raccoon family (Procyonidae) and close relatives of the kinkajou. Tree-dwelling and active at night, olingos are so similar in appearance and habits to the kinkajou that they are frequently mistaken for it, and they often share the same fruiting trees.

There is a key difference, though: unlike the kinkajou, the olingo does not have a prehensile (grasping) tail. Its long, bushy tail is used for balance rather than as a fifth limb, and its muzzle is more pointed.

Note: “olingo” covers several Bassaricyon species; details here describe the genus broadly. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Olingos live in tropical forests from Central America through parts of South America, including lowland rainforest and montane cloud forest. They are arboreal, spending their lives in the canopy, and depend on intact, well-connected forest with plenty of fruiting trees.

Diet

Olingos are mainly frugivores, feeding heavily on ripe fruit, along with nectar, insects, and occasionally small animals. Like other fruit-eating, flower-visiting members of the raccoon family, they can help disperse seeds and may visit flowers for nectar. They forage at night through the canopy, often at the same fruiting trees used by kinkajous and other animals.

Behavior

Olingos are nocturnal and arboreal, leaping and climbing nimbly through the canopy. Lacking a grasping tail, they rely on agility and their long, bushy tail for balance rather than hanging from it as a kinkajou does. They are generally solitary or seen in small numbers, and they shelter in tree hollows by day. Quiet and elusive, olingos are not well known to most people and are easily overlooked or mistaken for kinkajous, which is part of why some olingo species were only recently recognised by science.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Olingos are little-known forest animals, not commonly encountered, and their main conservation challenge is the loss and fragmentation of tropical forest. Some species are reasonably widespread while others, with smaller ranges, are more vulnerable; protecting connected forest is key. As wild, specialised forest animals, they are not suited to life as pets. Consult the IUCN Red List for species-specific status.

More photos of the olingo

An olingo in a tree, showing its bushy tail.

Olingo (Bassaricyon gabbii).

Image: James Telford, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Olingo

What's the difference between an olingo and a kinkajou?
They look and live very similarly — both are golden-brown, nocturnal, fruit-eating tree-dwellers in the raccoon family — but the key difference is the tail. The kinkajou has a prehensile (grasping) tail it uses like a fifth limb, while the olingo's long, bushy tail is used only for balance. Olingos also tend to have a more pointed muzzle. They're close relatives, not the same animal.
Is an olingo a kind of raccoon?
Yes, in the broad sense — the olingo belongs to the raccoon family (Procyonidae), which also includes raccoons, coatis, and kinkajous. So while it doesn't look much like a typical raccoon, it's part of that family group, with the kinkajou as its closest well-known relative.
What do olingos eat?
Mostly fruit, supplemented with nectar, insects, and occasionally small animals. As night-active canopy foragers, olingos visit fruiting (and sometimes flowering) trees, and like other fruit-eating procyonids they can help disperse seeds through the forest.
Why are olingos so little known?
Because they're quiet, nocturnal, high-canopy animals that closely resemble the more familiar kinkajou, olingos are easily overlooked or misidentified. In fact, their similarity caused confusion for a long time — one olingo species (the olinguito) was only formally described by scientists relatively recently, highlighting how much remains to be learned about them.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.