| Procyonidae | |
|---|---|
 A Raccoon | |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Procyonidae |
Procyonidae is a family from the Carnivora order.
Characteristics[]
Procyonids are relatively small animals, with generally slender bodies and long tails. Except for the kinkajou, all procyonids have banded tails, and distinctive facial markings - these are especially visible in the raccoons. Like bears, procyonids are plantigrade, walking on the soles of their feet. Most species have non-retractile claws. Because of their omnivorous diet, procyonids have lost some of the adaptations for flesh-eating found in their carnivorous relatives. While they do have carnassial teeth, these are poorly developed in most species, especially the raccoons.
Evolution[]
Fossils belonging to the genus Bassariscus, which includes the modern ringtail and cacomistle, have been identified from the Miocene epoch, around 20 million years ago. It has been suggested that early procyonids were an offshoot of the canids that adapted to a more omnivorous diet.
Genera[]
Family Procyonidae
Genus †Angustictis Genus †Probassariscus Genus †Edaphocyon Genus †Arctonasua †A. eurybates †A. floridana †A. fricki †A. gracils †A. minima Genus †Cyonasua †C. argentina Genus †Amphinasua Genus †Chapalmalania †C. altaefrontis †C. orthognatha Genus †Protoprocyon Genus †Paranasua Genus †Bassaricynoides Genus †Parapotos
Subfamily Procyoninae
Tribe Procyonini Subtribe Procyonina Genus Procyon Crab-eating Raccoon, Procyon cancrivorus Cozumel Raccoon, Procyon pygmaeus Common Raccoon, Procyon lotor Subtribe Nasuina Genus Nasua South American Coati or Ring-tailed Coati, Nasua nasua White-nosed Coati, Nasua narica Genus Nasuella Western Mountain Coati, Nasuella olivacea Eastern Mountain Coati, Nasuella meridensis Tribe Bassariscini Genus Bassariscus Ringtail, Bassariscus astutus Cacomistle, Bassariscus sumichrasti
Subfamily Potosinae
Genus Potos Kinkajou, Potos flavus Genus Bassaricyon Bushy-tailed Olingo or Gabbi's Olingo, Bassaricyon gabbii Allen's Olingo, Bassaricyon alleni Beddard's Olingo, Bassaricyon beddardi Harris's Olingo, Bassaricyon lasius Chiriqui Olingo, Bassaricyon pauli