The Japanese raccoon dog, Nyctereutes viverrinus, known in Japan as the tanuki, is a canid endemic to Japan and one of two species in the genus Nyctereutes, alongside the common raccoon dog of mainland Asia, of which some authorities treat it as a subspecies. Chromosome counts and genetic studies set it apart from mainland animals, and the divergence is put at roughly 0.6 million years ago. It has a smaller stomach and shorter, less insulating fur than its mainland relatives, and it is mainly nocturnal. The IUCN places it at least concern because it is widespread and abundant in Japan. It is hunted mainly to prevent crop damage and for its fur, which is used in calligraphy brushes, and many die on roads each year. The tanuki holds a prominent place in Japanese folklore as a shapeshifting trickster.
Facts
Classification
ThreatsTransportation and Service Corridors 2 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 2 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Japanese raccoon dog (Wikipedia)
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Source Japanese raccoon dog (Wikipedia)Lead, endemic to JapanQuote, Lead, endemic to Japan
is a species of canid that is endemic to Japan
Sources
1. Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal diet data
Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)MamFuncDat.txt row Nyctereutes procyonoides, BodyMass-Value (grams) (EltonTraits lists the Japanese raccoon dog under Nyctereutes procyonoides)
Nyctereutes procyonoides Canidae 20 10 30 0 0 0 30 0 10 0 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 0 0 Ref_1 ABC 4040
MamFuncDat.txt row Nyctereutes procyonoides, Diet-Inv through Diet-PlantO (EltonTraits lists the Japanese raccoon dog under Nyctereutes procyonoides)
Nyctereutes procyonoides Canidae 20 10 30 0 0 0 30 0 10 0 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 0 0 Ref_1 ABC 4040
View the Source 2. Japanese raccoon dog (Wikipedia)
Conservation, living species
The IUCN places the raccoon dog at "least concern" status due to the animal's wide distribution in Japan and abundant population
Behavior
The Japanese raccoon dog is mainly nocturnal.
Conservation, relationship to people
In Japan, the species is hunted mainly to prevent crop damage; however, its fur is desired for use in calligraphy brushes
Conservation, hunting
In Japan, the species is hunted mainly to prevent crop damage; however, its fur is desired for use in calligraphy brushes
Conservation, road deaths
The animal suffers a conservative estimate of up to 370,000 deaths by vehicles each year in Japan.
Lead, endemic to Japan
is a species of canid that is endemic to Japan
Child Taxon Of: Nyctereutes, Lead, genus
The Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus), also called the tanuki, is a species of canid that is endemic to Japan.
In Group: Dogs And Wild Canids, Lead, canid
The Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus), also called the tanuki, is a species of canid that is endemic to Japan.
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