Island raccoon

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Guadeloupe raccoons in the Parc des Mamelles on Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe

The term island raccoons is used as a generic term for four endangered and one (or two) extinct subspecies or species of raccoon (

endemic on small Mexican and Caribbean islands, such as Cozumel and Guadeloupe.[1] Other subspecies of raccoon living on islands, like that of the common raccoon (Procyon lotor) native to the Florida Keys
, are generally not included under this term, since it was established at a time when all five (or six) "island raccoons" were considered distinct species. The five (or six) populations are:

Classification

After studies of their morphological and genetic traits in 1999, 2003 and 2005, only the Cozumel raccoon is still considered a distinct species, while the others were classified as subspecies of the common raccoon in the third edition of Mammal Species of the World published in 2005.[2][3][4] It is assumed that the four (or five) other island forms were introduced to their respective islands just a few centuries ago, probably by humans.[2] The Guadeloupe raccoon is even considered of the same species as the similar Bahamian raccoon. Its former scientific name Procyon (lotor) minor is listed as a synonym for Procyon lotor maynardi.[4]

Description

Apart from the comparatively large Tres Marias raccoon, all island raccoons are smaller than an average-sized common raccoon, making them examples of

ground hairs
.

Conservation

The last sighting of the Barbados raccoon occurred in 1964, when one specimen was killed by a car on a road near

critically endangered.[10] Apart from the fact that the Guadeloupe raccoon has been chosen as an emblematic species for Guadeloupe National Park, no conservation efforts have been made to protect these populations from extinction. Habitat destruction and hunting are the biggest threats to their survival. Considering their small ranges, they were most likely never numerous. While Kristofer M. Helgen and Don E. Wilson, who have done the most recent research about island raccoons, are of the opinion that the Cozumel raccoon should be considered a high conservation priority, the other three subspecies may themselves pose a threat to the insular ecosystem as invasive species.[2][3]

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-58834-033-7
    . (This source was used for the whole article unless noted otherwise.)
  2. ^
    doi:10.1017/S0952836902002972
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-970-32-2603-0
    . Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0
    . Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  5. DOC) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2008-09-08. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help
    )
  6. ^ Mustelid Specialist Group (1996). "Procyon insularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  7. ^ Mustelid Specialist Group (1996). "Procyon maynardi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  8. ^ Mustelid Specialist Group (1996). "Procyon minor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  9. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T18267A45201913.en
    . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  10. ^ McFadden, Katherine W. (2004). "The Ecology, Evolution and Natural History of the Endangered Carnivores of Cozumel Island, Mexico" (PDF): 85. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) (Dissertation at the Columbia University)
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