Cozumel Island Raccoon
Procyon Pygmaeus
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Classification:
| Kingdom | ANIMALIA |
|
Phylum
Subphylum |
CHORDATA
VERTABRATA |
| Class | MAMMALIA |
| Order | CARNIVORA |
| Family | PROCYONIDAE |
| Common Name/s | COZUMEL ISLAND
RACCOON PYGMY RACCOON COZUMEL RACCOON BEARS |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Procyon Pygmaeus is much smaller in size when compared to its mainland cousin, the common raccoon, procyon lotor. They also have smaller teeth and a large black throat band with a light yellow or bronze colored tail in addition to procyon lotor's coloration. They are 3-4kg in weight making them the smallest of all the raccoons.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Habitat: These raccoons are terrestrial, living in the mangroves of the tropical and subtropical regions of Cozumel Island.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Status in Wild: Researchers believe that this particular species of raccoon was originally indigenous to the mainland of Mexico, but because of habitat destruction and hunting there numbers declined. A few specimens are thought to have made it to Cozumel by stowing aboard ships. There numbers are still thought to be declining on Cozumel because of similar reasons, but they are an extremely elusive creature and this makes the task of acquiring exact figures difficult.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For additional information please contact the SCTAG Education Liaison
Page created by Blake Perry
Fall 2005
PJC Zoo Tech