11.10. Procyon lotor: Raccoon http://www.ck12.org
Description
Raccoons have a black mask, with a bushy ring tail with about 4 to 10 rings. Their total length is 603 to 950 mm.
Raccoons weigh 4.0 to 10.4 kg. Raccoons have four paws with five long nails. Humans like to catch raccoons
because they are fun to catch, and they are a challenge. Humans also like to catch raccoons because they like to use
raccoons’ fur and tails to make hats, but it is dangerous if they are protecting their young. Raccoons have been known
to live up to 16 years in the wild, though most raccoons die at their second year. If they survive their childhood,
raccoons can live an average of 5 years in the wild.
The complete taxonomic classification is:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Procyonidae
- Genus:Procyon
- Species:P. lotor
Habitat
Raccoons are mostly found in North America. Raccoons are very adaptable and like to live near humans. They
live near humans because they like to eat their food. Raccoons must have access to water. Raccoons like moist
woodlands. Raccoons like to live on the coast, and in the woodlands. They can also be found in farmlands, suburban
and urban areas. Raccoons prefer to make their den in trees, but they also use caves, mines, deserted buildings,
barns, rain sewers, or even houses. Raccoons can live in areas with cold or warm weather. Hollow trees are very
good for newborns. Raccoons look for an uninhabited place and move in. They like to make a den in hollow tree
trunks. Raccoons also like to live in caves, barns, and even houses.
Biology
Cell Biology
Like all mammals, raccoons have eukaryotic cells. The eukaryotic cells have organelles. Some of the organelles
are a nucleus, ribosomes, Golgi bodies, vesicles, and the endoplasmic reticulum. They also have a cell membrane.
The cells in the raccoon divide by mitosis and meiosis. In mitosis, the nucleus of the cell divides and two new cells
are made with same chromosomes as the original cell. In meiosis, cells divide and gametes ( ex. eggs, sperm) are
made with 1/2 the chromosomes of the original cell. Chromosomes are made of DNA with genes that are “codes”
for traits.
Evolution
The first animal fossils were found around 630 million years ago. They evolved from water to land. When animals
went from water to land, they had to adapt, for example they had to be able to support their own body weight.
Raccoon fossils were found in Europe, so they are thought to have lived in Europe first, about 25 million years ago.