Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Crab-Eating Raccoon

Procyon cancrivorus

Description:

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 crustaceans, but is an omnivore and its diet also includes, for example, small amphibians, 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. Unlike the common raccoon, the hair on the nape of the neck points towards the head, rather than backward. The crab-eating raccoon also appears to be more adapted to an arboreal lifestyle than the common raccoon, with sharper, narrower claws. It also is better adapted for a diet of hard-shelled food, with most of the cheek teeth being larger than those of the common raccoon, with broader, rounded cusps.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

No Comments

AlbertKang
Spotted by
AlbertKang

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Spotted on Mar 24, 2015
Submitted on Jun 17, 2015

Spotted for Mission

Related Spottings

Raccoon Raccoon Raccoon Raccoon

Nearby Spottings

Urania Swallowtail Moth Ctenosaur Lizard Central American Agouti Two-Toed Sloth
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team