Procyonidae, from Greek πρό (pró, “before, in place of”) and Greek κύων (kúōn, “dog”), means “before dog”, in reference to the early notion that these animals ancestral stock also gave rise to dogs.

Common names of members

Raccoons, ringtails, cacomistles, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, and olinguitos.

Distribution  

Through the Americas.

Size

They range in size from around 30–65 cm long, plus a tail generally as long again.

Morphology

They are relatively small possum-like animals, with generally slender bodies and long tails, shortened rostrum, absent alisphenoid canals, and a relatively flat mandibular fossa.

Habitat & Ecology

Mostly arboreal: forests, wetlands

Diet

They have an omnivorous diet, based on fruits, seeds, insects, earthworms, lizards, birds, rodents and eggs.

Reproduction 

Some live in families while some are solitary. They are polygamous (one male mating with multiple females). Their young are protected in tree holes or hollow trees. Only females are responsible for parental care.

Species known in Hong Kong

0

Total species known

14

Species in the collection

1

Species in Hong Kong

0

Reference

Macdonald, D. W. (2006). The Encyclopedia of mammals. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780199206087.001.0001.

Feldhamer, G. A., L. C. Drickamer, S. H. Vessey, and J. F. Merritt. (2020). Mammalogy. Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology. Johns Hopkins University Press.