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'Procyonidae' is a New World family of carnivores which includes the raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, ringtails and cacomistles. Recent genetic studies have shown that the kinkajous were an early offshoot of the ancestral procyonid line and are not closely related to any of the other extant genera; coatis and olingos are closest relatives, while the closest relatives of the raccoons are the ringtails and cacomistles.^[1] This data is not yet reflected in the classification scheme, which groups kinkajous and olingos together on the basis of similarities in morphology which are now known to be an example of parallel evolution.
There is considerable uncertainty over the correct classification of several members. The Red Panda was previously classified in this family, but some experts, including Don E. Wilson and DeeAnn M. Reeder, classify it as a member of the bear family (Ursidae) or in its own family the Ailuridae. The status of the various olingos is disputed: they may all be better regarded as subspecies of ''Bassaricyon gabbii''.
Because of their general build, the Procyonidae are often viewed as smaller cousins of the bear family. This is apparent in their German names: a raccoon is called a ''Waschbär'' (washing bear, as he "washes" his food before eating), a coati is a ''Nasenbär'' (nose-bear) while a Kinkajou is a ''Honigbär'' (honey-bear). Dutch follows suit, calling the animals ''wasbeer'', ''neusbeer'' and ''rolstaartbeer'' respectively.

★ 'FAMILY PROCYONIDAE'

★ 'Subfamily Procyoninae' (9 species in 4 genera)

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★ raccoons, ''Procyon''

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★ Crab-eating Raccoon, ''Procyon cancrivorus''

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★ Tres Marias Raccoon, ''Procyon insularis''

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★ Common Raccoon, ''Procyon lotor''

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★ Coatis, ''Nasua''

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★ Coatimundi or Ringtailed Coati, ''Nasua nasua''

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★ White-nosed Coati, ''Nasua narica''

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★ Cozumel Island Coati, ''Nasua nelsoni''

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★ Mountain Coatis, ''Nasuella''

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★ Mountain Coati, ''Nasuella olivacea''

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★ Ringtails and Cacomistles, ''Bassariscus''

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★ Ringtail, ''Bassariscus astutus''

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★ Cacomistle, ''Bassariscus sumichrasti''

★ 'Subfamily Potosinae' (6 species in 2 genera)

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★ Kinkajous, ''Potos''

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★ Kinkajou, ''Potos flavus''

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★ Olingos, ''Bassaricyon''

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★ Olingo, Bushy-tailed Olingo or Gabbi's Olingo, ''Bassaricyon gabbii''

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★ Allen's Olingo, ''Bassaricyon alleni''

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★ Beddard's Olingo, ''Bassaricyon beddardi''

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★ Harris's Olingo, ''Bassaricyon lasius''

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★ Chiriqui Olingo, ''Bassaricyon pauli''

Contents

References

References

1. Phylogeny of the Procyonidae (Mammalia: Carvnivora): Molecules, morphology and the Great American Interchange, K.-P. Koepfli, M. E. Gompper, E. Eizirik, C.-C. Ho, L. Linden, J. E. Maldonado, R. K. Wayne, , , Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2007