Scientific Name
Nyctereutes procyonoides
Conservation Status
Stable
Where to see them
Trader’s Alley
Fun Facts
- Tanuki are members of the canid family, which includes wolves and domestic dogs. Although tanuki are not closely related to raccoons, they are often referred to as raccoon dogs for their physical similarities.
- Tanuki are the only canids that hibernate in winter, although hibernation only occurs in the northern part of their range.
Tanuki
Size
Adults average 25 to 31 inches long from nose to tail and weigh 14 to 16 pounds.
Range
Eastern Asia
Habitat
Forests
Lifestyle
Tanuki form monogamous pairs, as do other canids like foxes and jackals. They tend to flee from confrontation, sometimes “playing dead” to avoid predators.
Food
Tanuki are omnivorous, with a varied diet that includes small mammals, amphibians, fish and some vegetation.
Life Cycle
Raccoon dogs give birth to larger litters than other canid species, delivering as many as 12 pups in one litter.
Some of My Neighbors (IN THE WILD)
brown bear, red fox, sika deer
Population Status & Threats
Tanuki are not currently endangered, but they are an example of a species that could come under threat in the future due to unsustainable activities. They are widely hunted for their fur, and their bones are used in traditional Asian medicine.
Zoo Atlanta Conservation Efforts
Trader’s Alley: Wildlife’s Fading Footprints, the new series of exhibits opened at Zoo Atlanta in June 2010, seeks to enlighten guests about the global problem of the wildlife trade.