Raccoon Dog - TheLiving Encyclopedia

Nyctereutes is a genus of Asian canid with two extant species, the raccoon dogs: the common raccoon dog and the Japanese raccoon dog. Nyctereutes entered the fossil record 5.5 million years ago (Mya) in northern China. It was one of the earliest canines in the Old World. All but two species became extinct before the end of the Pleistocene. A study suggests that the evolution of Nyctereutes was influenced by environmental and climatic changes, such as the expansion and contraction of forests and the fluctuations of temperature and precipitation.

📌 Characteristics

They are typically recognized by their short snouts, round crania and the shaping of their molars, specifically the ratio between M1 and M2. Nyctereutes is considered mainly an opportunistic carnivore, feeding on small mammals, fish, birds, and insects, alongside occasional plants, specifically roots. Their diet is mostly influenced by environmental factors. Japanese raccoon dogs are considered distinct from the mainland species because of the larger skull size found in Russian and Hokkaido raccoon dogs.

📌 Species

===Extant species=== }}

📌 Fossil species

*†Nyctereutes abdeslami 3.6—1.8 Mya (Morocco) *†Nyctereutes donnezani 9.0—3.4 Mya (Eastern Europe, Spain) *†Nyctereutes lockwoodi 3.42—3.2 Mya (Ethiopia) *†Nyctereutes megamastoides (Europe) *†Nyctereutes tingi *†Nyctereutes vinetorum

Quick Facts

Common Names:

Raccoon Dog, Mainland Raccoon Dog

Class:

Mammalia

Data Completeness:

100%

Data Sources

🌍gbif

📚itis

📖wikipedia

🔬eol

🦎inaturalist

References

All references are verified for authenticity. We prioritize peer-reviewed studies, reputable databases (iNaturalist, GBIF), and established encyclopedias.

Distribution Statistics

10

Observations

10

Countries

Top Locations

Seosan, KR-GN, KR

1

Юрьев-Польский р-н, Владимирская обл., Россия

1

Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea

1

Тальменский р-н, Алтайский край, Россия

1

Здвинский р-н, Новосибирская обл., Россия

1

Recent Observers

@misooksun

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First: 3/26/2011 · Latest: 9/7/2025