Crab raccoon
| Crab raccoon | ||||||||||||
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Crab Raccoon ( Procyon cancrivorus ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Procyon cancrivorus | ||||||||||||
| ( Cuvier , 1798) |
The crab raccoon ( Procyon cancrivorus ) is a species of predator belonging to the genus of raccoons ( Procyon ) within the family of small bears (Procyonidae).
features
Crab raccoons are similar to the well-known (North American) raccoons , but have a shorter coat. This is colored gray-brown, with the underside being a little lighter. The face is characterized by the black mask characteristic of raccoons, which contrasts with the light color of the face. Her tail is curled. The animals reach a head body length of up to 65 centimeters, the tail is up to 38 centimeters long and they reach a weight of up to 8 kilograms, whereby the males become larger than the females.
distribution and habitat
Raccoons are mainly native to South America, their range extends from Costa Rica to Uruguay and northern Argentina . Their habitat is forests, they occur in tropical and subtropical rainforests as well as in dry forests. Their habitat, however, is always close to bodies of water such as rivers, swamps, lakes or sea coasts; u. a. they occur in mangrove forests .
Way of life
Crab raccoons are mainly crepuscular and nocturnal ; during the day they sleep in tree hollows or other hiding spots. They are generally considered loners, but like the North American raccoon, they are likely to have more complex social behavior. The roaming areas of animals overlap without aggressive behavior occurring when there is sufficient food. Sometimes several females may also share a territory.
As with the North American raccoon, the sense of touch is extremely well developed, especially in the area of the snout and front paws. Foraging for food, often done in shallow water, has led to the misconception that raccoons wash their food.
food
Raccoons are omnivores that consume both plant foods (such as fruits and nuts) and meat. However, they are more specialized than their North American relatives in crabs , crayfish , fish and frogs . Insects , turtle eggs and other things complete the menu.
Reproduction
Between July and September, the female gives birth to two to five young animals after a gestation period of around 60 to 73 days. The young animals are nestled, their eyes open after about three weeks. They are weaned after two to four months. They become sexually mature when they are around one year old. In areas where both North American and raccoons live (Costa Rica and Panama), hybridization does not appear to occur .
threat
Animals are hunted for their fur and meat. Although they are considered rarer than their North American relatives, they are likely to be widespread and not endangered species.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 ( English ).
- Gabriele Ueberfeld: Organontogenesis in raccoons (Procyon lotor) and crab raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus) Hanover 1978, DNB 790855992 ( Dissertation Veterinary University Hanover 1978, 93 pages).
Web links
- Procyon cancrivorus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Mustelid Specialist Group, 1996. Retrieved on 12 May, 2006.