Potto Perodicticus potto
Description
Head and body length of the Potto is 12 to 15 inches. Tail length 1.5 to 4 inches, and weight from .5 to .75 pounds. The index finger is a mere rudiment, and the thumb is opposable to the three remaining fingers, producing an excellent grasping organ. The great toe opposes the other toes, making the foot equally efficient for grasping. The potto is nocturnal and arboreal, sleeping in foliage by day. It is generally slow, moving by climbing rather than by leaping, but it can make quick grasps with its hands and mouth. The potto leaves urine trails about 3 feet long on branches, apparently as a means of communication. Females defend an area large enough to support themselves and their young. Older and larger males establish individual home ranges from which other males are excluded.After being carried on the belly for a few days, the young are left hidden during the mothers nightly forays. At 3 to 4 months of age the youngsters begin to follow the mother, or ride dorsally.
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Range
The Potto's range is Guinea to western Kenya and central Zaire.
Habitat
Pottos inhabit tropical forests.
Gestation
Gestation is approximately 170 days.
Litter
1
Behavior
The potto is nocturnal and arboreal, sleeping in foliage by day. It is generally slow, moving by climbing rather than by leaping, but it can make quick grasps with its hands and mouth. Females defend an area large enough to support themselves and their young. Older and larger males establish individual home ranges from which other males are excluded, but which overlap the home ranges of one or more females. The potto leaves urine trails about 3 feet long on branches, apparently as a means of communication.
Reproduction
After being carried on the belly for a few days, the young pottos are left hidden during the mother's nightly forays. At 3 to 4 months of age the youngsters begin to follow the mother, or ride dorsally. Adult weight is attained at 8 to 14 months, and sexual maturity at 18 months. Young males leave the mother's home range when 6 months old, and young females at 8 months, but share their mother's range.
Diet (Wild)
Fruit, gums and insects, small vertebrates (birds and bats)
Diet (Zoo)
Monkey chow, ZooPreem, carrots, bananas, crickets, oranges, vitamins, cottage cheese
Conservation Status
Least Concern
