These animals forage high up in the treetops at night, climbing slowly through the branches, using their wide, sensitive eyes to locate fruit in the moonlight, and a good sense of smell to find ants and other insects. Pottos also sleep high up in trees during the day.

Females occupy large ranges, big enough to provide food for themselves and their young. Males occupy larger ranges, which cover as many female ranges as possible. Pottos are fairly solitary creatures, but males and females overlapping ranges make contact throughout the year, communicating with vocal calls and scent marks.

In the first few days of life, baby Pottos cling to their mothers’ bellies, but later the mothers leave their young hidden near their nests when out foraging. The young are collected at the end of the night. After a few months, the young Pottos begin to follow their mothers around as they search for food. The mothers may carry their young on their backs. Young male Pottos leave their maternal territories when they are only six months old, but young females stay with their mothers for much longer

When threatened, Pottos lower their heads between their forelegs, so that they are protected by their shoulder blades.

Habitat: Tropical forest

Food: Fruit, insects and small vertebrates

Life Span: 25 Years

Status: Common

Breeding: Single young, or occasionally twins