<P> Alan "Brain" Powers (voiced by Luke Reid 1996--1999; Steven Crowder 2000--2001; Alex Hood 2002--2005; Paul - Stuart Brown 2004--2007; James Buckholder 2006; Lyle O'Donohue 2008--2012; Siam Yu 2012--2014; Max Friedman Cole 2014--present) is a bear of Senegalese descent, and celebrates Kwanzaa . He usually wears a grey sweater . Highly academic, holding an A average and well - educated on a multitude of subjects, his classmates call him "The Brain" or simply, "Brain," and his knowledge is largely tied to his personal identity, as evidenced in when he tried to hide the fact that he had to repeat kindergarten . He has an innate interest in science, and does not believe in any theory until it is proven with concrete evidence . His family owns an ice cream parlor, where his classmates frequently visit after school and on weekends . </P> <P> Mary Alice "Muffy" Crosswire (Melissa Altro) is a monkey who has long red hair, which she wears in two braids adorned with purple bows that match her purple and white dress . She's one of two children born to Ed Crosswire, the owner of the used car dealership Crosswire Motors, and his wife, Millicent Crosswire, the other being her brother, Chip . Muffy is the quintessential daddy's girl, with Ed believing his daughter can do no wrong and constantly buying her expensive, trendy items such as cell phones and designer clothing . Because of her upbringing, Muffy sometimes shows herself to be rude and haughty, and having lived in a mansion and waited on by servants her entire life, she has no sense of what it means to be lower or middle class . She is best friends with Francine Frensky, despite the two both having similar strong - willed personalities, and oftentimes, it's Francine who will reign Muffy in when her rudeness reaches an unacceptable level . </P> <P> Shelley "Binky" Barnes (Bruce Dinsmore) is a yellow bulldog who usually wears an orange shirt, blue jeans, and brown shoes . He is in the third grade for a second time after failing third grade and having to retake it . He is a member of the Tough Customers group of bullies (George being his most frequent target), but has a soft side . He plays the clarinet, catches butterflies, and enjoys ballet . It is revealed that he has a severe allergy to peanuts . Binky has an adopted baby sister from China named Mei - Lin . In the episode "What's in a Name?", Binky discovers that his real name is Shelley and that he is named after his great - grandfather who saved a circus . </P> <P> Kate Read (Tracy Braunstein) is Arthur and D.W.'s baby sister . Although she can't talk to older people yet, she can communicate with Pal, Mei - Lin Barnes, Killer, Toady and Mr. Toad, Amigo, Nemo, and Pepe the Flea . She has started to become more mature, and is starting to lose communication with Pal and some of her friends, but is also starting to understand Arthur, D.W., and Mr. and Mrs. Read's speech more and more . </P>

What kind of animal is binky from arthur