tanuki

Tanuki, or Japanese raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, is a canid native to East Asia. It is not a raccoon or a badger; the name reflects an early resemblance to the raccoon, but it is a true canid. The animal has a compact, robust body, short legs, and a dense coat. A bushy tail with rings and a dark mask give it a distinctive appearance, with fur color ranging seasonally from gray-brown to reddish.

Tanuki are found across Japan, Korea, parts of northeastern China and the Russian Far East. They inhabit forests, wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural areas, and are highly adaptable to human-modified landscapes. They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, foraging on a wide diet that includes fruits, seeds, insects, mollusks, small vertebrates, and carrion. They are good swimmers and dig for food, often using burrows, hollow logs, or under structures as dens. Social structure is flexible, with individuals usually solitary or pairing during the breeding season.

Breeding occurs in spring; litters consist of multiple pups, and both parents may care for the young. The mating season and litter size vary by region and year. Tanuki are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with stable overall populations though local declines due to habitat loss and road mortality occur in some areas. In Japanese folklore, tanuki are shapeshifting tricksters and appear in many tales; they are also depicted in popular art and statues, where they symbolize luck and mischief.