Crab-eating raccoon

Crab-eating raccoon
An individual at Reserva de Fauna Carmelo, Uruguay
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Procyon
Species:
P. cancrivorus
Binomial name
Procyon cancrivorus
(G. Cuvier, 1798)
Subspecies
  • P. c. cancrivorus
  • P. c. aequatorialis
  • P. c. nigripes
  • P. c. panamensis
Crab-eating raccoon range

The crab-eating raccoon, southern raccoon, or South American 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.[1] Despite its name, this species does not feed exclusively on crabs, and the common raccoon also seeks and eats crabs where they are available. In the Tupi–Guarani languages, it is known as aguará or agoará popé.[2]

  1. ^ a b Reid, F.; Helgen, K.; González-Maya, J.F. (2016). "Procyon cancrivorus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41685A45216426. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41685A45216426.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Simpson, George Gaylord (February 1941). "Vernacular Names of South American Mammals". Journal of Mammalogy. 22 (1): 12. doi:10.2307/1374677. JSTOR 1374677.