Why is this animal unusual?
It belongs to the order of meat-eaters, but about 90% of its diet is fruit. Evolution gave it a carnivore’s teeth and a fruit bat’s lifestyle.
Why does it look like that?
A round head, small ears, and a thick tail that grips branches. It’s one of only two carnivores in the world with a tail like that.
Strangest biological feature
A tongue about 5 in (12 cm) long. It’s for licking nectar from flowers and honey out of bee nests – which is why it’s called the honey bear.
Why is it strange?
When it drinks nectar, pollen sticks to its face and gets carried to the next flower. So this fluffy mammal does the job of a bee.
Interesting behavioral facts
It’s nocturnal, sleeps in tree hollows by day, and can turn its back feet around to run just as easily backwards along a branch as forwards.
