The nocturnal Central and South American mammal with a prehensile tail that feeds heavily on nectar is the kinkajou.
The kinkajou, Potos flavus, is an arboreal member of the raccoon family, Procyonidae. It lives in tropical forests from Mexico through Central America and into Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. Although it belongs to the order Carnivora, its diet is mostly fruit—especially figs—with nectar, flowers, leaves, insects, and occasional small animals adding variety.
Its long, slender tongue can extend about 5 inches, allowing it to reach nectar inside flowers and scoop pulp from soft fruit. While feeding, kinkajous may transfer pollen between flowers, making them useful pollinators. Their fully prehensile tail acts as a “fifth hand” for stability while climbing, but they do not use it to grasp food.
Kinkajous are active mainly at night and sleep in tree hollows or dense foliage during the day. They are sometimes mistaken for monkeys because of their tail and forward-facing eyes, but they are carnivorans related to raccoons. Olingos look similar, though kinkajous generally have shorter muzzles, rounder ears, and a more strongly prehensile tail.