Crab-Eating Raccoon

Procyon cancrivorus

The Crab-Eating Raccoon is a lesser-known relative to the popular and iconic Common Raccoon. This particular species lives in Central and South America, inhabiting marshy, forested areas.

The name is a bit misleading, as the Crab-Eating Raccoon does not exclusively eat Crabs. It is also not the only Raccoon to eat Crustaceans-- the Common variety does as well. In addition to their name-sake meals, these Raccoons also eat amphibians, fruits, eggs, fish, and insects. They are very dexterous creatures, having the ability to manipulate food and other objects with their hands.

Crab-Eating Raccoons are nocturnal and solitary. They look slimmer and sleeker than their northern cousins, but that is only because their hair is shorter due to a lack of undercoat (they don't need it since they live in tropical climates).

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Central and South America
Size : Body length up to 30in (80cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Carnivora
Family : Procyonidae -- Genus : Procyon -- Species : P. cancrivorus

Image : Steven Johnson