GISD

Procyon lotor

System : Terrestrial

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Animalia

Chordata

Mammalia

Carnivora

Procyonidae

Full account (PDF)

General
Distribution
Impact
Management
Bibliography
Contact

Common name

Synonym

Similar species

Summary

Procyon lotor (raccoon) is an omnivorous mammal native to North America that has been introduced in many countries. Long seen as an endemic in several Caribbean islands (Bahamas, Barbados and Guadeloupe), the recent discovery of its exotic origin means that this species represents a potential environmental threat to the biodiversity of the islands.

view this species on IUCN Red List

Principal source:

Compiler: Comité français de l'UICN (IUCN French Committee) & IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)

Review:

Publication date: 2008-03-14

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2025) Species profile: Procyon lotor. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1262 on 24-10-2025.

Locations

Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Procyon lotor

ALIEN RANGE

[4] guadeloupe
[1] japan
[1] martinique
[1] saint martin (french part)

NATIVE RANGE

Bibliography

10 references found for Procyon lotor

Management information

Bartoszewicz, M. 2006. NOBANIS � Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet � Procyon lotor � From: Online Database of the North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species � NOBANIS www.nobanis.org,
Summary: The North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species (NOBANIS) is a gateway to information on alien and invasive species in North and Central Europe. The participating countries are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Faroe Islands, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, European part of Russia, Sweden. The NOBANIS project will provide fact sheets on 60 of the most invasive alien species of the region, covering both animals and plant as well as microorganisms.
NOBANIS is available from: www.nobanis.org, this page is available from: http://www.nobanis.org/files/factsheets/Procyon_lotor.pdf [Accessed 14 July 2008]

DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe) 2008. Procyon lotor.
Summary: DAISIE was developed as part of the Delivering Alien Invasive Species In Europe (DAISIE) project funded by the sixth framework programme of the European Commission (Contract Number: SSPI-CT-2003-511202). It provides a �one-stop-shop� for information on biological invasions in Europe, delivered via an international team of leading experts in the field of biological invasions, latest technological developments in database design and display, and an extensive network of European collaborators and stakeholders.
Available from: http://www.europe-aliens.org/speciesFactsheet.do?speciesId=5200# [Accessed 14 July 2008]

General information

Asano, M., Matoba, Y., Ikeda, T., Suzuki, M., Asakawa, M. and Ohtaishi, N. 2003. Reproductive characteristics of the feral raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Hokkaido, Japan. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 65: 369-373.

Helgen, K.M. and D. Wilson. 2002. The history of raccoons of the West Indies. Journal of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society 47:1-11.

Helgen, K.M. and D. Wilson. 2003. Taxonomic status and conservation relevance of the raccoons (Procyon spp.) of the West Indies. J. Zool. Lond. 259:69-76.
Summary: Cet article met en �vidence que chacune des trois populations carib�ennes de raton laveur est le r�sultat d introductions humaines depuis l Am�rique du Nord au cours des si�cles derniers. En cons�quence, ces esp�ces ne devraient pas �tre consid�r�s comme des priorit�s de conservation dans les Cara�bes. Au contraire, son origine exotique fait que le raton laveur peut repr�senter une menace �cologique pour ces �cosyst�mes insulaires.

Ikeda, T., Asano, M., Matoba, Y. and Abe, G. 2004. Present status of invasive alien raccoon and its impact in Japan. Global Environmental Research 8:125-131.

ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), 2008. Online Database Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758)
Summary: An online database that provides taxonomic information, common names, synonyms and geographical jurisdiction of a species. In addition links are provided to retrieve biological records and collection information from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Data Portal and bioscience articles from BioOne journals.
Available from: http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=180575 [Accessed 11 March 2008]

Lorvelec, O., Pascal, M., & Pavis, C. 2001. Inventaire et statut des Mammif�res des Antilles fran�aises (hors Chiropt�res et C�tac�s). In Rapport n� 27 de l Association pour l Etude et la Protection des Vert�br�s et V�g�taux des Petites Antilles, Petit-Bourg, Guadeloupe.
Summary: Article de synth�se sur les mammif�res (hors chiropt�res et c�tac�s) des Antilles fran�aises. L origine des esp�ces introduites et leurs impacts av�r�s ou potentiels sont discut�s.
Available from: http://www.fnh.org/francais/fnh/uicn/pdf/biodiv_mammiferes_antilles.pdf [Accessed 9 April 2008]

Nowak, R. 1991. Walker s Mammals of the World. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Pons, J.M., Volobouev, V., Ducroz, JF, Tillier, A. et Reudet, D. 1999. Is the Raccoon of Guadeloupe really an endemic species? New insights based on a molecular and karyological study. J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Research 37 : 101-108
Summary: Les r�sultats de cette �tude mettent en �vidence que le raton laveur guadeloup�en (P.minor) est consp�cifique de l esp�ce am�ricaine P.lotor et qu il aurait �t� introduit r�cemment en Guadeloupe depuis la cote est des Etats-Unis. Ces r�sultats impliquent la r�vision du statut taxonomique du raton laveur guadeloup�en.