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North American raccoon - PROCYON LOTOR
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Raccoon": "Raccoon" comes from the Algonquian word "aroughcoune," for the animal.
Location: North America, introduced to France and Russia.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Virtually anywhere.
Description: The racoon's coat is long, dense, and gray-black with a distinctive mask around the eyes. The tail has five to seven black rings. The feet have five toes with curved, nonretractile claws and hairless soles. The front feet are adapted to catching and handling objects while the hind feet support the weight of the body. Northern raccoons are larger than those farther south. The head and body are two to three feet long with a tail of eight to 16 inches. They weigh anywhere from 15 to 40 pounds.
Behavior: This mostly nocturnal, solitary raccoon feeds on plant and animal matter, eggs, berries, grapes, acorns, the seeds of various plants, and arthropods (crustaceans and insects). It rarely preys on other vertebrates. It does not hibernate, but in the summer and autumn it accumulates a fat reserve to see it through the winter. It is known for its habit of washing food, and if there is no water at hand it rubs the food with its hands. Only the male has a territory, and he displays territorial behavior only when confronted by other males.
Reproduction: The mating season in spring and summer varies from place to place. The gestation period lasts for about 60 days. There are two to five young per litter.
Go to the Carnivore Page to learn more about all the meat-eating animals.
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