Common raccoon dog, Chinese raccoon dog, Asian raccoon dog, Mangut, Neoguri (Korean name) Tanuki, Mårdhund ("marten-dog") in Sweden
The Common raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a canid indigenous to mainland East Asia and northern Vietnam. Despite its name, its closest relatives are the true foxes, and not the American raccoons. Among the Canidae, the Raccoon dog shares the habit of regularly climbing trees only with the North American Gray fox, to which it is not closely related.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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Fluffy AnimalsThe winter fur of Raccoon dogs is long and thick with dense underfur and coarse guard hairs. It protects them from low temperatures. This fur is of a dirty, earth-brown, or brownish-grey color with black guard hairs. The tail is darker than the torso. A dark stripe is present on the back, which broadens on the shoulders, forming a cross shape. The abdomen is yellowish-brown, while the chest is dark brown or blackish. The muzzle is covered in short hair, which increases in length and quantity behind the eyes. The cheeks are coated with long, whisker-like hairs. The summer fur is brighter and reddish-straw colored. Rare, white Raccoon dogs occur in Japan and in China.
Raccoon dogs are native to eastern Asia ranging from the eastern corner of Russia to Japan and northern India. They were introduced in Europe and now these animals are abundant throughout Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Serbia, France, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Austria, Belarus, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Ukraine, Germany, Norway, European parts of Russia, Denmark, and Sweden. Raccoon dogs live in forests, farmlands, and urban areas. They are often found near water and prefer moist meadows, shores of rivers and lakes, and other habitats with abundant undergrowth.
Raccoon dogs are social animals. They live and hunt in pairs or small family groups. However, in most sightings by humans, they are seen alone. Raccoon dogs are active both during the night and day. When foraging they rely on their keen sense of smell because they have very poor vision. To hunt their prey these animals may climb trees, swim, and even dive. Raccoon dogs use vocalizations to communicate with each other. They do not bark, uttering instead a growl, followed by a long-drawn, melancholy whine. Males fighting for females may yelp and growl. Early in the winter Raccoon dogs start to hibernate and usually do that in pairs.
Raccoon dogs are omnivorous animals. They eat insects, rodents, amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, mollusks, carrion, as well as fruits, nuts, and berries.
Raccoon dogs are monogamous and mate for life. Captive males, however, have been known to mate with four or five females. Males will fight briefly, but not fatally, for mates. Their breeding season begins from early February to late April, depending on location. The gestation period lasts 61-70 days, with pups being born in April-May. Litter sizes typically consist of 6-8 pups, though 15-16 pups can be born in exceptional cases. Males take an active role in raising the pups. At birth, pups weigh 60-110 g, and are blind and covered in short, dense, soft wool lacking guard hairs. Their eyes open after 9-10 days, with the teeth erupting after 14-16 days. Lactation lasts for 45-60 days, though pups begin eating food brought to them as early as the age of 3 weeks to 1 month. They reach their full size at the age of 4.5 months and leave their parents in late August-September. By October, the pups, which by then resemble adults, unite in pairs. Reproductive maturity is reached at the age of 8-10 months.
The main threat to Raccoon dogs is hunting and they are often persecuted as a pest species. They also suffer locally from road kills, predation from feral dogs, and epidemics. Populations may also decline due to extreme habitat loss.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Raccoon dog is unknown. However, there is an estimated population of the species in Finland consisting of 110,000-120,000 mature individuals, and in the autumn population will contain 320,000 individuals, including the young of the year. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...