Island raccoon

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 extinct subspecies or species of raccoon (Procyon) endemic on small Central American 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 "island raccoons" were considered distinct species. The five 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 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 Bahaman 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 insular dwarfism. With a weight between 3 and 4 kg (6.6–8.8 lbs), the Cozumel raccoon is the smallest type of raccoon, except for Procyon lotor auspicatus endemic on Key Vaca in the Florida Keys.[3] While a short and delicate skull is all in common except for the Tres Marias raccoon, the noticeable small teeth of the Cozumel raccoon suggest that it was separated from the mainland form long ago. The coat color of all island raccoons is gray or dark gray and on the underparts only few guard hairs cover the light brown 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 Bathsheba.[5] All four extant populations were classified as endangered by the IUCN in 1996, since less than 2,500 mature individuals were living in the wild and the population numbers continue to decline.[6][7][8][9] Katherine W. McFadden gives an estimated number of fewer than 194 mature individuals of the Cozumel raccoons in her dissertation and argues that it should be even classified as 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. ↑ Zeveloff, Samuel I. (2002). Raccoons: A Natural History. Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Books. pp. 42–46. ISBN 978-1-58834-033-7. (This source was used for the whole article unless noted otherwise.)
  2. 1 2 3 Helgen, Kristofer M.; Wilson, Don E. (January 2003). "Taxonomic status and conservation relevance of the raccoons (Procyon spp.) of the West Indies". Journal of Zoology (Oxford: The Zoological Society of London) 259 (1): 69–76. doi:10.1017/S0952836902002972.
  3. 1 2 3 Helgen, Kristofer M.; Wilson, Don E. (2005). "A Systematic and Zoogeographic Overview of the Raccoons of Mexico and Central America". In Sánchez-Cordero, Víctor; Medellín, Rodrigo A. Contribuciones mastozoológicas en homenaje a Bernardo Villa. Mexico City: Instituto de Ecología of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. p. 230. ISBN 978-970-32-2603-0. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  4. 1 2 Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005). "Procyon". Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 627–628. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  5. ↑ "A National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan for Barbados" (DOC). Ministry of Physical Development and Environment of Barbados. July 2002: 69–70. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  6. ↑ "Procyon insularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2007. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 1996. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  7. ↑ "Procyon maynardi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2007. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 1996. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  8. ↑ "Procyon minor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2007. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 1996. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  9. ↑ "Procyon pygmaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2007. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 1996. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  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. (Dissertation at the Columbia University)
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