{{Short description|Species of carnivore}} {{speciesbox | name = Northern olingo | image = Bushy tailed olingo.jpg | image_caption = in Costa Rica | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Helgen, K. |author2=Kays, R. |author3=Pinto, C. |author4=González-Maya, J.F. |author5=Schipper, J. |date=2016 |title=''Bassaricyon gabbii'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T48637946A45196211 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T48637946A45196211.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Bassaricyon | species = gabbii | authority = Allen, 1876 | range_map = B-gabbii_geo.jpg | range_map_caption = Northern olingo range<ref name=ZooKeys/> | synonyms = ''Bassaricyon richardsoni'' <small>J. A. Allen, 1908</small><br /> ''Bassaricyon lasius'' <small>Harris, 1932</small><br /> ''Bassaricyon pauli'' <small>Enders, 1936</small> }}
The '''northern olingo''' ('''''Bassaricyon gabbii'''''), also known as the '''bushy-tailed olingo''' or, simply, the '''olingo''' (due to it being the most common of the species),<ref name=ZooKeys/> is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) member of the raccoon family, Procyonidae, which also includes the coatimundis and kinkajou. Native to Central America, it was the first species of olingo to be scientifically described; while it is considered by some authors to be the only "true" olingo species,<ref name=msw3/> a review of the genus ''Bassaricyon'' had shown there to be a total of four species, two of those now being considered synonymous with the northern olingo.<ref name=ZooKeys>{{cite journal |title=Taxonomic revision of the olingos (''Bassaricyon''), with description of a new species, the Olinguito |last1=Helgen |first1=K. M. |last2=Pinto |first2=M. |last3=Kays |first3=R. |last4=Helgen |first4=L. |last5=Tsuchiya |first5=M. |last6=Quinn |first6=A. |last7=Wilson |first7=D. |last8=Maldonado |first8=J.|journal= ZooKeys|issue= 324|date=15 August 2013|pages= 1–83|doi= 10.3897/zookeys.324.5827 |pmid=24003317 |pmc=3760134|bibcode=2013ZooK..324....1H |doi-access=free }}</ref> Its specific name honors William More Gabb (1839-1878), who found and collected the first specimen for western science.<ref name=Prange2009/><ref name = "Beolens2009">{{Cite book | last = Beolens | first = B. |author2=Watkins, M. |author3=Grayson, M. | title = The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press | date = 2009-09-28 | page = 145 | url = http://google.com/books?id=I-kSmWLc6vYC&pg=PA145 | isbn = 978-0-8018-9304-9| oclc = 270129903}}</ref>
==Description== The northern olingo is a slender arboreal animal, with hind legs distinctly longer than the fore legs, and a long, bushy tail. The face is short and rounded, with relatively large eyes and short round ears.<ref name=check/> The fur is thick and colored brown or grey-brown over most of the body, becoming slightly darker along the middle of the back, while the underparts are light cream to yellowish.<ref name=check/> A band of yellowish fur runs around the throat and sides of the head, where it reaches the base of the ears, while the face has greyish fur. The tail is similar in color to the body, but has a number of faint rings of darker fur along its length. The soles of the feet are hairy, and the toes are slightly flattened, ending with short, curved claws.<ref name=check>{{cite journal|last1=Saavedra-Rodriguez|first1=Carlos Arturo|last2=Velandia-Perilla|first2=Jorge H.|title=Bassaricyon gabbii Allen, 1876 (Carnivora: Procyonida): New distribution point on western range of Colombian Andes|journal=Check List|pages=505–507|url=http://www.checklist.org.br/getpdf?NGD156-10}}</ref> Females have a single pair of teats, located on the rear part of the abdomen, close to the hind legs.<ref name=Prange2009>{{cite journal |author1=Prange, S. |author2=Prange, T.J. |name-list-style=amp | year = 2009 | title = ''Bassaricyon gabbii'' (Carnivora: Procyonidae) | journal = Mammalian Species | volume = 826 | pages = 1–7 | doi = 10.1644/826.1 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
Adults have a head-body length of {{convert|36|to|42|cm}}, with a {{convert|38|to|48|cm}} tail.<ref name=check/> They weigh around {{convert|1.2|to|1.4|kg}}.<ref name=check/> The northern olingo possesses a pair of anal scent glands,<ref name=check/> capable of producing a foul-smelling chemical when the animal is alarmed.<ref name=Prange2009/>
This is the largest of the olingo species.<ref name=ZooKeys/> Its pelage is typically less rufous than the other olingos, while its tail bands are a bit more distinct.<ref name=ZooKeys/>
==Distribution and habitat== The northern olingo is found from Nicaragua south through Colombia (where it has been sighted as far south as El Carmen de Atrato, Chocó Department),<ref>{{cite web | title=Olingos (Genus Bassaricyon) | date=27 April 2023 | url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/156826773 }}</ref> as well as Costa Rica and Panama.<ref name=ZooKeys/> They have been occasionally reported from Honduras and Guatemala, although its great similarity to the more common kinkajou may make such reports dubious. The olingo is not currently recognised by the IUCN.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> While some individuals have been found as low as sea level,<ref name=ZooKeys/> it typically inhabits montane<ref name=ZooKeys/> and tropical moist forests<ref name=Prange2009/> from {{convert|1000|m}}<ref name=ZooKeys/> up to around {{convert|2000|m}} elevation, although, apparently, it avoids human-disturbed areas, plantations and areas of secondary forest.<ref name=Prange2009/>
==Taxonomy== Previously, three subspecies (including the nominate) were recognized of this olingo: ''B. g. gabbii'', ''B. g. richardsoni'', and ''B. g. medius''.<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Carnivora | id = 14001599}}</ref> The recent review of the genus has made several changes to the definition of this species:
#The Nicaraguan population ''B. g. richardsoni'' may truly be a subspecies, but further review and analysis is needed.<ref name=ZooKeys/> #''B. g. medius'' is smaller on average than ''Bassaricyon gabbii'' and the morphologic and genetic analysis demonstrated that is a different species: ''B. medius'' (western lowland olingo).<ref name=ZooKeys/> #Former species ''B. lasius'' and ''B. pauli'' have been demoted into synonyms for ''B. gabbii'', but may be elevated to subspecies as ''B. g. lasius'' and ''B. g. pauli''.<ref name=ZooKeys/>
The closest relatives of ''B. gabbii'' are the two lowland olingo species of Panama and northwestern South America, ''B. alleni'' and ''B. medius'', from which it diverged about 1.8 million years ago.<ref name=ZooKeys/>
==Diet and behavior== The northern olingo is a nocturnal herbivore, feeding almost entirely on fruit, especially figs. It has been observed to drink the nectar of balsa trees during the dry season, and, on rare occasions, to pursue and eat small mammals, such as mice and squirrels. During the day, it sleeps in dens located in large trees.<ref name=Prange2009/> It has an estimated home range of around {{convert|23|ha}}.<ref name="Kays2000">{{cite journal|last1= Kays|first1= R.W.|title=The behavior and ecology of olingos (''Bassaricyon gabbii'') and their competition with kinkajous (''Potos flavus'') in central Panama |journal= Mammalia |volume= 64|issue= 1|year= 2000|pages= 1–10|url= http://www.academia.edu/download/30664844/14484.pdf|doi= 10.1515/mamm.2000.64.1.1|s2cid= 84467601}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Although it has been considered to be a solitary animal, it is often encountered in pairs, and may be more sociable than commonly believed. It is arboreal, spending much of its time in trees. Its tail is not prehensile, unlike that of the related kinkajous, although it can act as a balance.<ref name=Prange2009/> The call of the northern olingo has been described as possessing two distinct notes, with a "whey-chuck" or "wey-toll" sound.<ref name=Kays2000/>
The northern olingo has a diet and habitat similar to those of kinkajous, and, when resources are in short supply, the larger animal may drive it away from its preferred trees.<ref name=Kays2000/> Predators known to feed on young northern olingo include the jaguarundi, ocelot, tayra, and Central American boas. It is believed to breed during the dry season, and to give birth to a single young after a gestation period of around ten weeks. It has lived for up to twenty-five years in captivity.<ref name=Prange2009/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Carnivora|C.}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q918089}}
Category:Bassaricyon Category:Carnivorans of Central America Olingo, Northern Category:Mammals described in 1876