Crab-eating raccoon
Encyclopedia
The Crab-eating Raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) is a species of raccoon
native to marshy and jungle areas of Central
and South America
(including Trinidad and Tobago
). It is found from Costa Rica
south through most areas of South America east of the Andes
down to northern Argentina
and Uruguay
. That it is called the crab-eating raccoon does not mean that only this species eats crabs, as the common raccoon
also seeks and eats crabs where they are available.
The Crab-eating Raccoon eats crab
, lobster
, and other crustacean
s, but is an omnivore
and its diet also includes, for example, small amphibian
s, turtle
eggs, and fruits. It resembles its northern cousin, the Common Raccoon, in having a bushy ringed tail and "bandit mask" of fur around its eyes. The crab-eating raccoon appears smaller and more streamlined than the common raccoon due to its much shorter fur, though it is of roughly similar dimensions. Head and body length is 41 centimetre, tail length is 20 to 42 cm (7.9 to 16.5 ), height at the shoulder is about 23 cm (9 in), and weights range from 2 to 12 kg (4.4 to 26.5 ). Males are usually larger than the females.
Procyon (genus)
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
native to marshy and jungle areas of Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
(including Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
). It is found from Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
south through most areas of South America east of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
down to northern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. That it is called the crab-eating raccoon does not mean that only this species eats crabs, as the common raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
also seeks and eats crabs where they are available.
The Crab-eating Raccoon eats crab
Crab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
, lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
, and other crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s, but is an omnivore
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
and its diet also includes, for example, small amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s, turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
eggs, and fruits. It resembles its northern cousin, the Common Raccoon, in having a bushy ringed tail and "bandit mask" of fur around its eyes. The crab-eating raccoon appears smaller and more streamlined than the common raccoon due to its much shorter fur, though it is of roughly similar dimensions. Head and body length is 41 centimetre, tail length is 20 to 42 cm (7.9 to 16.5 ), height at the shoulder is about 23 cm (9 in), and weights range from 2 to 12 kg (4.4 to 26.5 ). Males are usually larger than the females.