Crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Procyon
Species: cancrivorus
Range and Habitat
The crab-eating raccoon
is distributed from
Panama, southern Costa Rica to northern Argentina.
It is rarely seen in eastern Brazil.
Description
The crab- eating raccoon is a South American relative of Ring- tailed Raccoon.
It has short brown pelage and its underfur is absent.
Just like the Ring- tailed raccoons, they have a mask
of black on their eyes and
their tail has rings.
Size
The head and body length may reach 900mm and the tail averages 350mm.
Diet
The
crab eating raccoon is a generalized omnivore. It feeds on frogs, toads, crabs,
shrimps, eggs of turtles, fruits, and seeds.
They forage alone, except for the female and her offspring.
Behavior
The crab eating raccoon is solitary and nocturnal. It is frequently found in association with streams, lagoons, or lakes.
Reproduction
Young are born in July and August and the average litter consists of three young.
Links
For more information, contact The Small Carnivore TAG Education Liaison
Page created by Beava Law, Pensacola Junior College Zoo Animal Technology student, Fall 2003
