Procyonidae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, which includes raccoons, coatis, olingos, kinkajous, ring-tailed cats, and cacomistles, and many other extant and extinct mammals. A member of this family is called a procyonid. They are native to North and South America, though the common raccoon has been introduced to Europe, western Asia, and Japan. Procyonid habitats are generally forests, though some are found in shrublands and grasslands as well. The ring-tailed cat has a varied range including rocky areas and deserts as well as forests, and the common raccoon is widespread in urban environments. Species range in size from around 30–65 cm (12–26 in) long, plus a tail generally as long again. Population sizes are largely unknown, though the Cozumel raccoon is critically endangered, with around 200 individuals left, and the Eastern mountain coati is endangered. No procyonid species have been domesticated, although raccoons are sometimes kept as pets.

Raccoon lying on a branch
Common racoon (Procyon lotor)

The fourteen species of Procyonidae are split into six genera, which are not currently grouped into named clades. Procyonidae is believed to have diverged as a separate family within Carnivora around 22.6 million years ago.[1] In addition to the extant species, as of 2020 Procyonidae includes forty extinct species placed in the six extant and nineteen extinct genera, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

Conventions

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IUCN Red List categories
Conservation status
 EX Extinct (0 species)
 EW Extinct in the wild (0 species)
 CR Critically Endangered (1 species)
 EN Endangered (1 species)
 VU Vulnerable (0 species)
 NT Near threatened (2 species)
 LC Least concern (10 species)

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the procyonid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol (†). Population figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Classification

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The family Procyonidae consists of fourteen extant species belonging to six genera and divided into dozens of extant subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species. Some prior classification schemes included the red panda or divided the family into named subfamilies and tribes based on similarities in morphology, though modern molecular studies indicate instead that the kinkajou is basal to the family, while raccoons, cacomistles, and ring-tailed cats form one clade and coatis and olingos another, despite morphology suggesting otherwise.

  • Genus Bassaricyon (olingos): four species
  • Genus Bassariscus (ring-tailed cats and cacomistles): two species
  • Genus Nasua (coatis): two species
  • Genus Nasuella (mountain coatis): two species
  • Genus Potos (kinkajous): one species
  • Genus Procyon (raccoons): three species
Procyonidae  

Procyonids

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The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis; this includes rearranging Bassaricyon from five species to a mostly different four, and promoting the eastern mountain coati from a subspecies of the mountain coati.[2][3] There are additional proposals which are disputed, such as promoting the Guadeloupe raccoon population of the Bahamian raccoon subspecies of raccoon to a separate subspecies,[4] which are not included here.

Genus Bassaricyon Allen, 1876 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Eastern lowland olingo

 

B. alleni
Thomas, 1880
Northwest South America
 
Size: 30–46 cm (12–18 in) long, plus 40–53 cm (16–21 in) tail[2]

Habitat: Forest[5]

Diet: Primarily eats fruit, as well as small rodents, lizards, birds, insects, and eggs[5]
 LC 


Unknown  [5]

Northern olingo

 

B. gabbii
Allen, 1876
Central America
 
Size: 38–45 cm (15–18 in) long, plus 40–53 cm (16–21 in) tail[2]

Habitat: Forest[6]

Diet: Primarily eats fruit, nectar, flowers, insects, and small vertebrates[7][6]
 LC 


Unknown  [6]

Olinguito

 

B. neblina
Helgen, 2013

Four subspecies
  • B. n. hershkovitzi
  • B. n. neblina
  • B. n. osborni
  • B. n. ruber
Andes mountains in northwest South America
 
Size: 32–40 cm (13–16 in) long, plus 33–43 cm (13–17 in) tail[2]

Habitat: Forest[8]

Diet: Primarily eats fruit[8]
 NT 


Unknown  [8]

Western lowland olingo

 

B. medius
Thomas, 1909

Two subspecies
  • B. m. medius
  • B. m. orinomus
Northwest South America and eastern Central America
 
Size: 33–39 cm (13–15 in) long, plus 35–52 cm (14–20 in) tail[2]

Habitat: Forest[9]

Diet: Primarily eats fruit and nectar[9]
 LC 


Unknown  [9]

Genus Bassariscus Coues, 1887 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Cacomistle

 

B. sumichrasti
(Saussure, 1860)

Five subspecies
  • B. s. latrans
  • B. s. notinus
  • B. s. oaxacensis
  • B. s. sumichrasti
  • B. s. variabilis
Southern Mexico and Central America
 
Size: 38–47 cm (15–19 in) long, plus 39–53 cm (15–21 in) tail[10]

Habitat: Forest[11]

Diet: Primarily eats fruit, insects, and small vertebrates[11]
 LC 


Unknown  [11]

Ring-tailed cat

 

B. astutus
(Lichtenstein, 1830)

Fourteen subspecies
  • B. a. arizonensis
  • B. a. astutus
  • B. a. bolei
  • B. a. consitus
  • B. a. flavus
  • B. a. insulicola
  • B. a. macdougalli
  • B. a. nevadensis
  • B. a. octavus
  • B. a. palmarius
  • B. a. raptor
  • B. a. saxicola
  • B. a. willetti
  • B. a. yumanensis
Mexico and southwestern United States
 
Size: 30–42 cm (12–17 in) long, plus 31–45 cm (12–18 in) tail[12]

Habitat: Shrubland, forest, rocky areas, desert, and grassland[13]

Diet: Primarily eats rodents, insects, birds, and fruit[13]
 LC 


Unknown  [13]

Genus Nasua Storr, 1780 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
South American coati

 

N. nasua
(Linnaeus, 1766)

Thirteen subspecies
  • N. n. aricana
  • N. n. boliviensis
  • N. n. candace
  • N. n. cinerascens
  • N. n. dorsalis
  • N. n. manium
  • N. n. molaris
  • N. n. montana
  • N. n. nasua
  • N. n. quichua
  • N. n. solitaria
  • N. n. spadicea
  • N. n. vittata
Northern and central South America
 
Size: 41–67 cm (16–26 in) long, plus 32–69 cm (13–27 in) tail[14]

Habitat: Forest and shrubland[15]

Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates and fruit[15]
 LC 


Unknown  [15]

White-nosed coati

 

N. narica
(Linnaeus, 1766)

Four subspecies
Southern North America, Central America, and northwest South America
 
Size: 33–67 cm (13–26 in) long, plus 33–67 cm (13–26 in) tail[16]

Habitat: Grassland and forest[17]

Diet: Primarily eats fruit and invertebrates[17]
 LC 


Unknown  [17]

Genus Nasuella Hollister, 1915 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Eastern mountain coati


N. meridensis
Thomas, 1901
Andes mountains in Venezuela
 
Size: 43–54 cm (17–21 in) long, plus 19–30 cm (7–12 in) tail[3]

Habitat: Forest and grassland[18]

Diet: Unknown[18]
 EN 


Unknown  [18]

Western mountain coati

 

N. olivacea
(Gray, 1865)

Two subspecies
  • N. o. olivacea
  • N. o. quitensis
Andes mountains in northern South America
 
Size: 36–39 cm (14–15 in) long, plus 20–24 cm (8–9 in) tail[19]

Habitat: Forest and grassland[20]

Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates, small vertebrates, fruit, and vegetable remains[20]
 NT 


Unknown  [20]

Genus Potos Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire & G. Cuvier, 1795 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Kinkajou

 

P. flavus
(Schreber, 1774)

Seven subspecies
  • P. f. chapadensis
  • P. f. chiriquensis
  • P. f. flavus
  • P. f. megalotus
  • P. f. meridensis
  • P. f. modestus
  • P. f. nocturnus
Central America and northern South America
 
Size: 40–60 cm (16–24 in) long, plus 40–60 cm (16–24 in) tail[21]

Habitat: Forest[22]

Diet: Primarily eats fruit, as well as flowers and leaves[22]
 LC 


Unknown  [22]

Genus Procyon Storr, 1780 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Cozumel raccoon

 

P. pygmaeus
Merriam, 1901
Cozumel island in Mexico
 
Size: 42–60 cm (17–24 in) long, plus 23–26 cm (9–10 in) tail[23]

Habitat: Forest[24]

Diet: Primarily eats crabs, as well as fruit, insects, crayfish, and small vertebrates[24]
 CR 


200  [24]

Crab-eating raccoon

 

P. cancrivorus
(G. Cuvier, 1798)

Four subspecies
  • P. c. aequatorialis
  • P. c. cancrivorus
  • P. c. nigripes
  • P. c. panamensis
South America
 
Size: 54–65 cm (21–26 in) long, plus 25–38 cm (10–15 in) tail[25]

Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[26]

Diet: Primarily eats molluscs, fish, crabs, insects, and amphibians[26]
 LC 


Unknown  [26]

Raccoon

 

P. lotor
(Linnaeus, 1758)

22 subspecies
  • P. l. auspicatus (Key Vaca raccoon)
  • P. l. elucus (Florida raccoon)
  • P. l. excelsus (Snake River Valley raccoon)
  • P. l. fuscipes (Texas raccoon)
  • P. l. gloveralleni (Barbados raccoon)†
  • P. l. grinnelli (Baja California raccoon)
  • P. l. hernandezii (Mexican plateau raccoon)
  • P. l. hirtus (Upper Mississippi Valley raccoon)
  • P. l. incautus (Torch Key raccoon)
  • P. l. inesperatus (Matecumbe Key raccoon)
  • P. l. insularis (Tres Marias raccoon)
  • P. l. litoreus (Saint Simon Island raccoon)
  • P. l. lotor (Eastern raccoon)
  • P. l. marinus (Ten Thousand Islands raccoon)
  • P. l. maynardi (Bahamian raccoon)
  • P. l. megalodous (Mississippi Delta raccoon)
  • P. l. pacificus (Pacific Northwest raccoon)
  • P. l. pallidus (Colorado Desert raccoon)
  • P. l. psora (California raccoon)
  • P. l. pumilus (Isthmian raccoon)
  • P. l. simus (Short-faced raccoon)†
  • P. l. vancouverensis (Vancouver Island raccoon)
North and Central America, and introduced to Central Europe, the Caucasus Mountains, and Japan
 
Size: 41–55 cm (16–22 in) long, plus 19–41 cm (7–16 in) tail[27]

Habitat: Forest[28]

Diet: Omnivorous, eats fruit, nuts, insects, small mammals, eggs, birds, frogs, fish, aquatic invertebrates, worms, and garbage[28]
 LC 


Unknown  [28]

References

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  1. ^ Eizirik, E.; Murphy, W. J.; Koepfli, K. P.; Johnson, W. E.; Dragoo, J. W.; Wayne, R. K.; O'Brien, S. J. (February 4, 2010). "Pattern and timing of diversification of the mammalian order Carnivora inferred from multiple nuclear gene sequences". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 56 (1): 49–63. Bibcode:2010MolPE..56...49E. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.033. PMC 7034395. PMID 20138220.
  2. ^ a b c d e Helgen, K. M.; Pinto, M.; Kays, R.; Helgen, L.; Tsuchiya, M.; Quinn, A.; Wilson, D.; Maldonado, J. (August 15, 2013). "Taxonomic revision of the olingos (Bassaricyon), with description of a new species, the Olinguito". ZooKeys (324): 1–83. Bibcode:2013ZooK..324....1H. doi:10.3897/zookeys.324.5827. PMC 3760134. PMID 24003317.
  3. ^ a b Helgen, Kristofer; Kays, Roland; Helgen, Lauren; Nunes Tsuchiya, Mirian Tieko; Pinto, C.; Koepfli, Klaus; Eizirik, Eduardo; Maldonado, Jesús (2009). "Taxonomic boundaries and geographic distributions revealed by an integrative systematic overview of the mountain coatis, Nasuella (Carnivora: Procyonidae)". Small Carnivore Conservation. 41: 65–74.
  4. ^ Helgen, Kristofer M.; Wilson, Don E. (2003). "Taxonomic status and conservation relevance of the raccoons (Procyon spp.) of the West Indies". Journal of Zoology. 259 (1): 69–76. doi:10.1017/S0952836902002972.
  5. ^ a b c Helgen, K.; Kays, R.; Pinto, C.; Schipper, J. (2016). "Bassaricyon alleni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T48637566A45215534. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T48637566A45215534.en.
  6. ^ a b c Helgen, K.; Kays, R.; Pinto, C.; González-Maya, J. F.; Schipper, J. (2016). "Bassaricyon gabbii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T48637946A45196211. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T48637946A45196211.en.
  7. ^ Berger, Lee (2004). "Bassaricyon gabbii". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
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  9. ^ a b c Helgen, K.; Kays, R.; Pinto, C.; Schipper, J. (2016). "Bassaricyon medius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T48637802A48637905. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T48637802A48637905.en.
  10. ^ Lundrigan, Barbara; Zachariah, Trevor (2001). "Bassariscus sumichrasti". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Pino, J.; Samudio Jr, R.; González-Maya, J. F.; Schipper, J. (2016). "Bassariscus sumichrasti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T2613A45196645. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T2613A45196645.en.
  12. ^ Goldberg, Jeffrey (2003). "Bassariscus astutus". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Reid, F.; Schipper, J.; Timm, R. (2016). "Bassariscus astutus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41680A45215881. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41680A45215881.en.
  14. ^ Braddy, Sarah (2003). "Nasua nasua". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
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  16. ^ Hirsch, Ben (June 16, 2015). "Nasua narica (white-nosed coati)". Invasive Species Compendium. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c Cuarón, A. D.; Helgen, K.; Reid, F.; Pino, J.; González-Maya, J. F. (2016). "Nasua narica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41683A45216060. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41683A45216060.en.
  18. ^ a b c González-Maya, J. F.; Arias-Alzate, A. A. A. (2016). "Nasuella meridensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T72261777A72261787. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T72261777A72261787.en.
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  21. ^ Eisenberg, J. F.; Redford, K. H. (May 15, 2000). Mammals of the Neotropics: The Central Neotropics: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil. University of Chicago Press. pp. 289–290. ISBN 978-0-226-19542-1. OCLC 493329394.
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  23. ^ de Villa-Meza, A.; Avila-Flores, Rafael; Cuaron, Alfredo D.; Valenzuela-Galvan, David (2011). "Procyon pygmaeus (Carnivora: Procyonidae)". Mammalian Species. 43 (877): 87–93. doi:10.1644/877.1.
  24. ^ a b c Cuarón, A. D.; de Grammont, P. C.; McFadden, K. (2016). "Procyon pygmaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T18267A45201913. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T18267A45201913.en.
  25. ^ Phillips, Nicole (2005). "Procyon cancrivorus". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  26. ^ a b c Reid, F.; Helgen, K.; González-Maya, J. F. (2016). "Procyon cancrivorus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41685A45216426. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41685A45216426.en.
  27. ^ Dewey, Tanya; Fox, Rebecca (2001). "Procyon lotor". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  28. ^ a b c Timm, R.; Cuarón, A. D.; Reid, F.; Helgen, K.; González-Maya, J. F. (2016). "Procyon lotor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41686A45216638. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41686A45216638.en.