Seven Species of Raccoons

The scientific family procyonidae, more commonly known as raccoons, has 18 living species within six genera. The animals in this family are small to medium-sized mammals with tails and a common coloring of gray-brown to black, often with some form of ring markings to the fur. Most species are also very agile climbers.

  1. Northern/Guadalupe Raccoon

    • The northern raccoon is a widespread species ranging from southern Canada down through the entire U.S. and into northern South America. It is a medium-sized mammal that grows to over 3 feet in length and weighs over 20 lbs. It has a gray coat with a distinctive mask-like pattern around the eyes and black rings along the tail.

    Crab-Eating Raccoon

    • The crab-eating raccoon is similar in appearance to the northern species but is generally a little smaller, growing to just over 2 feet and 15 lbs. in weight. Because it lives in a warmer climate it has a single fur layer unlike its northern cousin, so it appears thinner. It makes its home in both Central and South America. Its name is slightly misleading as it eats a variety of foods, with crabs and crustaceans making up just a part of its diet.

    Kinkajou

    • The kinkajou is a medium-sized animal in the raccoon family with a long prehensile tail that makes up much of its length. Including its tail, the animal is over 4 feet in length and weighs around 10 lbs. It lives in tropical forests throughout Mexico and down into southern Brazil.

    White-Nosed Coati

    • The white-nosed coati is a medium-sized mammal that grows to over 4 feet, nose to tail, and up to 11 lbs. in weight. Its long prehensile tail helps it to climb efficiently as do its sharp, curved claws. It is mainly grayish-brown with black rings along its long tail.

    South American Coati

    • The South American coati is closely related to the white-nosed variety. It is slightly larger on average, by a few inches. It lives in the tropical regions of northern South America in countries like Columbia and Uruguay. Like the white-nosed species, its body is mainly grayish-brown and it has a ringed black tail.

    Ringtail

    • The ringtail resembles a northern raccoon except it has a smaller head and a more pointed snout. It grows to just over a foot in length and a little over 40 oz. It lives in the western and central U.S. states such as Texas, Oregon, California and Louisiana.

    Olingo

    • The olingo is a medium-sized member of the raccoon family. It grows to just over 3 feet, nose to tail, and weighs over 50 oz. It has an almost uniform fur color that ranges from gray-brown to yellowish and has faint darker banding along its long tail. It lives mainly in the South American countries of Nicaragua and Bolivia.