Animal That Looks Like a Bear With a Long Tail
6 Animals Similar to the Raccoon
The raccoon is an animal known all over the world, but - within its family and outside it - there are other animals similar to information technology due to their beliefs, concrete characteristics and means of living.
Raccoons are part of the Procyonidae family. These mammals are medium in size and the grouping includes other animals similar to the raccoon, such as cacomixtles, coatis, and kinkajous.
These cited species from the same family aren't actually raccoons, but they do show a clear resemblance to them, every bit do species from other families. Here you'll get to know everything nearly 6 animals that are similar to the raccoon.
Characteristics of raccoons
One of the main characteristics of raccoons is the mask of black fur that covers their eyes. This trait is believed to help reduce glare and improve their night vision, experts say. In addition to this peculiarity, at that place are also others:
- Another notable feature is its tail, alternated by stripes of calorie-free and dark colors. The fur that covers its body is dense, to protect the animal from the common cold, and grayish-brown in color.
- All five toes on a raccoon's front legs are extremely dexterous. They permit them to grasp and manipulate nutrient establish in nature and a wide diversity of objects, such as door handles, locks, jars and cans.
- The raccoon is omnivorous and its diet is largely determined by its environment. Their common foods include fruits, plants, nuts, berries, insects, rodents, frogs, eggs, and crayfish. In urban settings, they often forage for food in the garbage.
Raccoon species
In the world, there are 3 main species of raccoons, says Wildlife Control. Some of them can be constitute hanging effectually urban areas and others in nature. Here are ii of them:
- The Cozumel raccoon or pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus): This species of raccoon is institute on the isle of Cozumel, located off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, in United mexican states. Unfortunately, this species is highly endangered, so you will never run across it roaming your holding.
- The maned pope, mayuato or South American raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus): this is native to South America and is institute in tropical regions, on both sides of the Andes.
The latter is also called crab raccoon, because this species preys on crabs. Still, like other types of raccoons, it also eats a wide variety of foods.
The fur design of this species is slightly different from that of raccoons institute in the Usa, as its fur isn't thick; it appears thinner and smaller.
Beyond these footling-known species, we shouldn't forget the well-nigh emblematic specimen in this group:
- The boreal or racuna raccoon (Procyon lotor): it's likewise called mangrove fox, mangrove cat, mutual raccoon, and washing bear. It's the largest and well-nigh popular among the raccoon species.
This mammal tin be found roaming properties in the United States, Canada, and too in countries such equally Japan, Russia, and Germany. In addition, it tin live in almost whatsoever habitat, such every bit urban and residential areas, forests and parks, says Wild fauna NYC.
6 animals similar to raccoons
The raccoon is the best known of the procyonids (Procyonidae), simply, autonomously from it, in that location are other animals like to the raccoon that aren't necessarily part of this grouping. We'll give you some examples in the following lines.
i. Coati (Nasua nasua)
This mammal —which belongs to the procyonid family— is diurnal and lives in social groups of upward to xxx or more than animals. Like the raccoon and cacomixtle, coatis are omnivores and feed both on the ground and in trees.
They are longer than a raccoon, with a triangular caput, a pointed nose, an elongated snout, and a "face mask". Its tail is very long and not clearly ringed – like the raccoon's is.
Experts say that the ears of these animals are small and rounded, they accept v fingers equipped with stiff claws, their fur is long, dense and their coloration varies according to geographical location and age. Its dorsum ranges from yellowish-brown to night brown —near black—, while its belly ranges from whitish to an intense orange.
In coati bands, adult males aren't welcome except during mating season, says the Desert Museum. A significant female person leaves the group to give birth to her 4 or vi babies and rejoins the group several weeks later, with her new offspring.
These animals are found in South America, from Venezuela, Colombia and in all countries (except Republic of chile) to the north of Argentina and Uruguay.
2. Northern Cacomixtle (Bassariscus astutus)
The northern cacomixtle is also known as rintel, basáride or basarisco and too belongs to the procyonid family. It's found from southern Oregon —in the United states— to Oaxaca, in United mexican states.
This animal is the size of a squirrel and grayish-dark-brown in color. It has large black optics, pink ears, a tiny face up, and a long black and white ringed tail longer than its body; this definitely makes information technology 1 of the animals most similar to raccoons.
Furthermore, these are nocturnal animals that utilise their big eyes and cracking sense of odour to locate their prey. They are excellent climbers and jumpers and apply their long tails for balance.
iii. Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
Kinkajous live almost of the fourth dimension in the trees of the rainforests of Central and South America. Their tails allow them to latch onto trunks and branches as if they were another arm. It also helps them to swing and protect themselves from the cold, equally if this limb were a blanket.
These characteristics make yous believe that you're talking virtually a primate, simply, in reality, the kinkajou is another of the animals similar to the raccoon, because information technology is, in fact, related to it. Indeed, it's also part of the procyonid family unit.
In addition, these mammals are related to bears, due to the taste they have for honey, says National Geographic. To feed, they await for hives, fruit, and pocket-size mammals. They're active at nighttime and live in groups in the treetops, where they carry out social activities – such every bit grooming themselves.
4. Olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina)
The olinguito is a species of carnivorous mammal that besides makes up the group of procyonids. In 2013, it was identified equally a new species by Kristofer Helgen of the Smithsonian Institute, who discovered differences between the olingos of the American continent and those that inhabit Republic of colombia and Ecuador.
It's the smallest species of its genus, while its fur is dumbo orange or reddish-brownish. Its tail is voluminous, its eyes are very large and its dark gray muzzle is medium in size and pointed in shape.
These animals depend on the forests to alive; they're alone and nocturnal and feed on fruits and meat. It is a new species and there are no conservation plans equally all the same, but it's nether threat from human activity and climate change.
Being an owned species, it depends exclusively on the area it lives in. These animals have 1 offspring per gestation – between 110 and 120 days – and are found in the Andean region of Colombia and in the northern part of Ecuador.
5. Raccoon domestic dog or tanuki (Nyctereutes procyonoides)
This is also known as the Japanese dog and is part of the canine family (Canidae), which is fabricated upwardly of wolves, dogs, and coyotes, among others. Once more, it's part of our group of animals that are similar to raccoons and is native to eastern China, Korea, and Japan.
This mammal has the appearance of a small fox-like dog, with fur markings similar to those of raccoons. The specimens of this species accept pocket-size heads with pointed faces, the legs are short and, in full general, the body is robust.
Studies confirm that raccoon dogs live and hunt in pairs or pocket-size family unit groups. When they sleep or rest, couples normally stay in contact with each other and social grooming is also of import betwixt them.
six. Bottom panda (Ailurus fulgens)
When attempting to allocate it, this creature gave experts quite a headache, as information technology was considered to be a relative of the giant panda, but, at the aforementioned time, of the raccoon, existence very similar to the raccoon in looks. In the stop, it was assigned its very ain family (Ailuridae).
Normally, these mammals are the size of a domestic true cat and their tail adds 46 centimeters (18 inches) to their body. The tail'due south part is to serve as a type of blanket on the summits of the mountains. They inhabit loftier-altitude rainforests, like the giant panda, and they alive in the mountains of Nepal, northern Burma and in the cardinal regions of People's republic of china.
It's an endangered species, due to illegal hunting and deforestation, and because its habitat is reduced past logging and agriculture.
As you can see, in that location are several animals similar to the raccoon, many belonging to the same family and others non. All of these mammals are similar to the typical raccoon as regards their tail, their mask, their size, and their life in the trees, among many other characteristics.
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Source: https://myanimals.com/latest-news/news/wild-animals/6-animals-similar-to-the-raccoon/