By Lee Berger
Geographic Range
Brassaricyon gabbii is typically found from Nicaragua to Bolivia, where it is locally abundant and it is sparsely distributed in the western Amazon basin. (Kays, 2000; Nowak, 1999)
Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical 
(native ).
Habitat
(6560 ft)
Bassaricyon gabbii is found in evergreen forests, and on forest edges. It prefers the upper canopy of the forest and is rarely seen on the ground. Bassaricyon gabbii is found at elevations from sea level to 2,000 m. (Nowak, 1999; Pontes and Chivers, 2002)
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
tropical ; terrestrial .
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest ; rainforest .
Physical Description
(34.14 to 52.8 oz)
(29.53 to 37.6 in; avg. 33.46 in)
Bassaricyon gabbii measures 350 to 470 mm long, with a tail length of 400 to 480 mm. These animals weigh between 970 and 1,500 g. The pelage can range from grey-brown to yellowish. Faint bands are visible on the tail. It has small rounded ears and a flattened head. Both males and females have similar body size. (Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, 1999; Nowak, 1999)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: sexes alike.
Reproduction
These animals are apparently able to breed at least once per year, and without a definite breeding season may breed more often than that.
Breeding occurs throughout the year.
The breeding system of this species has not been reported. Males are reported to be intollerant of one another in captivity, so it is unlikely that females have multiple mates. (Nowak, 1999)
Mating systems:
polygynandrous (promiscuous) .
Breeding in B. gabii is reported to be aseasonal. Gestation lasts approximately 73 to 74 days. At the end of gestation a single offspring is born. Young are altricial, and like most carnivores, are born with their eyes closed. Birth weight is around 55 g. By about 27 days of age, the eyes of the young have opened. Solid food may be consumed as young as 2 months of age. By 21 to 24 months of age, B. gabbii has reached sexual maturity. (Nowak, 1999)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous .
Male parental care has not been reported for these animals. Females, like females of other mammalian species, take care of infants, providing them with milk, grooming, and protection. Young begin to consume solid food by about 2 months of age, and weaning probably occurs shortly thereafter. It is not known how long the young stay with their mothers, but, as with most carnivores, which must learn how to hunt for prey, young B. gabbii probably have some post-weaning association with their mothers. (Nowak, 1999)
Parental investment:
no parental involvement; altricial ; pre-fertilization (protecting: female); pre-hatching/birth (provisioning: female, protecting: female); pre-weaning/fledging (provisioning: female, protecting: female); pre-independence (provisioning: female, protecting: female).
Lifespan/Longevity
Not much is known about longevity in B. gabbii. Captive ones have been recorded living as long as 25 years. The lifespan in the wild is thought to be no more than 10 years. (Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, 1999; Nowak, 1999)
Behavior
Bassaricyon gabbii is a nocturnal and arboreal animal. It is usually seen alone, but groups as large as six have been seen feeding together in large fruit trees. BBassaricyon gabbii, known commonly as an olingo, avoids kinkajous (Potos flavus), since the closely related kinkajous will chase them out of trees. Because they are nocturnal, olingos do not compete directly with most primates. (Kays, 2000; Pontes and Chivers, 2002)
Home Range
The home range size for these animals has not been reported.
Communication and Perception
It is thought that B. gabbii communicates with conspecifics using sound. Olingos also have glands on either side of the anus that that are used in scent marking. The function of this scent marking may be to attract members of the opposite sex, or to mark territory. Because they are mammals, it is likely that visual signals, such as body posture, are used in some instances. Tactile communication is undoubtedly of importance between rivals, mates, as well as between mothers and offspring. (Kays, 2000; Nowak, 1999)
Other communication keywords:
scent marks .
Food Habits
Bassaricyon gabbii feeds on fruits, nectar, flowers, insects, and small vertebrates. It is primarily a frugivore and prefers to feed in fruit trees. However, it is reported to consume considerably more meat in captivity than Potos flavus, and actively hunts warm-blooded animals. (Kays, 2000; Nowak, 1999; Pontes and Chivers, 2002)
Animal Foods:
birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods.
Plant Foods:
fruit; flowers; sap or other plant fluids.
Predation
- jaguars (Panthera onca)
- humans (Homo sapiens)
The predators of B. gabbii are snakes and large cats like the jaguar (Panthera onca). Humans are known to kill them, but not for food. (Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, 1999; Nowak, 1999)
Ecosystem Roles
Bassaricyon gabbii is a minor seed disperser. In addition, this species may affect populations of small vertebrates upon which it preys, as well as those of large carnivores which prey upon it. It is a known competitor of Potos flavus, and is probably an indirect competitor with many diurnal primate species which feed on fruits. (Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, 1999; Kays, 2000; Nowak, 1999; Pontes and Chivers, 2002)
Key ways these animals impact their ecosystem:
disperses seeds.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Bassaricyon gabbii can eat fruit being grown commercially, but its population is so sparse that it does not constitute a major threat to crops. (Pontes and Chivers, 2002)
Ways that these animals might be a problem for humans:
crop pest.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Bassaricyon gabbii is not known to have any direct economic importance to humans. (Nowak, 1999)
Conservation Status
Deforestation of B. gabbii habitat is reducing the population, but no exact numbers are known. The species is listed on Appendix III of CITES in Costa Rica. IUCN lists the species as Lower risk. (IUCN, 2002; Kays, 2000; Pontes and Chivers, 2002)
Other Comments
Five species of the genus Bassaricyon are currently recognized by most authorities. However, some think that these five species should be demoted to the rank of subspecies of a single species. (Nowak, 1999)
Natives of the Amazon consider the olingos dangerous and kill them on sight. (Pontes and Chivers, 2002)
For More Information
Find Bassaricyon gabbii information at
Contributors
Nancy Shefferly (editor), Animal Diversity Web Staff.
Lee Berger (author), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Chris Yahnke (editor, instructor), University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.
