Procyonidae

Procyonidae is a family of small- to medium-sized carnivoran mammals in the order Carnivora, commonly known as procyonids. The group includes raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, and ringtails. They are native to the Americas, from southern Canada to northern Argentina, and occupy a variety of habitats, including forests, swamps, grasslands, and urban areas.

Extant genera are Procyon (raccoons), Nasua (coatis), Bassariscus (ringtails and the cacomistle), Potos (kinkajou), and Bassaricyon (olingos and the olinguito). Members are typically medium-sized with stout bodies, well-developed forelimbs, and in several species a long, prehensile tail. They exhibit a range of locomotion patterns, with some species adept climbers and others more terrestrial.

Ecology and behavior: Procyonids are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, consuming fruits, invertebrates, small vertebrates, eggs, and occasionally human foods. They are generally nocturnal or crepuscular, with raccoons showing high behavioral plasticity and frequent foraging in human-altered landscapes. Coatis and ringtails are more social and often terrestrial, whereas kinkajous and olingos are primarily arboreal. Reproduction varies by species, with females producing litters of one to several offspring after a relatively short gestation period.

Conservation: Most procyonids are not endangered, but several species face threats from habitat loss, hunting, and road mortality. Some populations are protected within reserves and managed habitats. The family is of interest to science for its ecological diversity, adaptive behavior, and evolutionary relationships with other carnivorans.