The raccoon, Procyon lotor, is a North American mammal recognized for its distinctive black mask across its eyes and a bushy, ringed tail. This adaptable creature is commonly found across various habitats, from dense forests to urban environments.
The Procyonid Family
Raccoons belong to the scientific family Procyonidae, a group of mammals primarily found in the New World, extending from southern Canada down to northern Argentina. This family encompasses 18 species across six genera. Procyonids are generally small to medium-sized animals, with body weights ranging from under 1 kilogram to over 20 kilograms. They typically possess slender to stocky bodies and medium to long tails.
Members of the Procyonidae family are largely omnivorous, consuming a varied diet that includes both plant and animal matter. Many species within this family exhibit arboreal or semi-arboreal habits, meaning they spend a significant amount of time in trees. Most procyonids are also nocturnal, actively foraging during the night. While the red panda was once classified within this family, it is now often placed in its own family, Ailuridae, or sometimes within Ursidae.
Close Relatives of Raccoons
Within the Procyonidae family, several animals share a close relationship with the raccoon. These include ringtails, cacomistles, coatis, kinkajous, and olingos.
Ringtails
Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) are slender creatures with long, bushy tails distinctly marked by alternating black and white bands. They possess large eyes encircled by white fur and prominent rounded ears. Found in rocky habitats, canyons, and areas near water from the southwestern United States to northern Mexico, ringtails are adept nocturnal climbers, capable of rotating their hind feet 180 degrees to descend structures headfirst. Their omnivorous diet consists of fruits, insects, small mammals, and birds.
Cacomistles
Cacomistles (Bassariscus sumichrasti) bear a resemblance to ringtails but can be distinguished by their non-retractile claws and more pointed ears. Their fur is typically grayish-brown with paler underparts and white patches around their eyes. These arboreal mammals inhabit humid tropical evergreen jungles and montane cloud forests from southern Mexico down to Panama, where they are primarily nocturnal and solitary. They feed on a varied omnivorous diet, favoring fruits but also consuming small animals such as frogs and birds.
Coatis
Coatis, encompassing the Nasua and Nasuella genera, are recognized by their sleek, slender heads and notably long, flexible snouts. Their long tails, often held upright, aid in balance. Coatis are widespread across the Americas, found in diverse environments from tropical woodlands to dry forests. Unlike most procyonids, coatis are primarily diurnal, and females often live in social groups called bands, while males are typically solitary. They are omnivores, eating fruits, invertebrates, small animals, and bird eggs.
Kinkajous
Kinkajous (Potos flavus), sometimes called “honey bears,” are distinguished by their round heads, large eyes, short pointed snouts, and a long, prehensile tail. Their fur coloration varies, often appearing tawny olive to yellowish. Strictly arboreal, kinkajous reside in the canopy of tropical rainforests from Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil. These strictly nocturnal animals are primarily frugivorous, consuming fruits, nectar, and insects.
Olingos
Olingos of the Bassaricyon genus are slender animals with hind legs longer than their forelegs and long, bushy tails that are not prehensile. They have large round eyes and pointed muzzles, with grayish-brown fur. Olingos inhabit Central and northern South American jungles, particularly cloud forests, and are largely arboreal. These nocturnal omnivores typically lead solitary lives, though they may be observed in pairs or small groups. Their diet mainly consists of fruit, especially figs, and nectar, supplemented by invertebrates and small vertebrates.
Common Characteristics and Distinctions
Within the Procyonidae family, raccoons and their relatives share several common traits. Most procyonids exhibit remarkable dexterity, possessing five digits on their forefeet and hindfeet, and walk plantigrade (on the soles of their feet). This foot structure, along with agile fingers, contributes to their climbing abilities.
Despite these shared characteristics, notable distinctions exist. Tail function varies; kinkajous have fully prehensile tails for grasping, while coatis use theirs primarily for balance. Snout shapes differ, with kinkajous having short muzzles and coatis and raccoons exhibiting longer snouts. Facial markings are diverse; raccoons, ringtails, and coatis often display distinctive patterns, absent in kinkajous.
While most procyonids are solitary, coati females form social bands, and kinkajous may live in small groups. Their claws are typically non-retractile, though some species, like ringtails, have partially retractile claws.