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The '''Cozumel Raccoon''' (''Procyon pygmaeus''), also called the '''Pygmy Raccoon''',<ref name="Helgen2005">{{cite book | last=Helgen | first=Kristofer M. | coauthors=Wilson, Don E. | editor=Sánchez-Cordero, Víctor; Medellín, Rodrigo A. | title=Contribuciones mastozoológicas en homenaje a Bernardo Villa | url=http://books.google.de/books?id=PQphdAd9KKcC | accessdate=2008-08-09 | year=2005 | publisher=Instituto de Ecología of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | location=Mexico City | isbn=978-9703226030 | pages=221–236 | chapter=A Systematic and Zoogeographic Overview of the Raccoons of Mexico and Central America}}<!-- PAGE 223 --></ref> is a [[critically endangered species]] of [[Procyon (genus)|raccoon]] [[Endemism|endemic]] on [[Cozumel|Cozumel Island]] off the coast of the [[Yucatan Peninsula]], [[Mexico]].<ref name="IUCN" /><ref name="Zeveloff">{{cite book | last=Zeveloff | first=Samuel I. | title=Raccoons: A Natural History | publisher=Smithsonian Books | location=Washington, D. C. | year=2002 | isbn=978-1588340337 | page=45}} (This source was used for the whole article unless noted otherwise.)</ref>
The '''Cozumel Raccoon''' (''Procyon pygmaeus''), also called the '''Pygmy Raccoon''',<ref name="Helgen2005">{{cite book | last=Helgen | first=Kristofer M. | coauthors=Wilson, Don E. | editor=Sánchez-Cordero, Víctor; Medellín, Rodrigo A. | title=Contribuciones mastozoológicas en homenaje a Bernardo Villa | url=http://books.google.com/?id=PQphdAd9KKcC | accessdate=2008-08-09 | year=2005 | publisher=Instituto de Ecología of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | location=Mexico City | isbn=978-9703226030 | pages=221–236 | chapter=A Systematic and Zoogeographic Overview of the Raccoons of Mexico and Central America}}<!-- PAGE 223 --></ref> is a [[critically endangered species]] of [[Procyon (genus)|raccoon]] [[Endemism|endemic]] on [[Cozumel|Cozumel Island]] off the coast of the [[Yucatan Peninsula]], [[Mexico]].<ref name="IUCN" /><ref name="Zeveloff">{{cite book | last=Zeveloff | first=Samuel I. | title=Raccoons: A Natural History | publisher=Smithsonian Books | location=Washington, D. C. | year=2002 | isbn=978-1588340337 | page=45}} (This source was used for the whole article unless noted otherwise.)</ref>


== Classification ==
== Classification ==
Line 24: Line 24:


== Description ==
== Description ==
Merriam described the Cozumel Raccoon as being markedly smaller, both externally and cranially and easy to distinguish from the Common Raccoon because of its "broad black throat band and golden yellow tail, short posteriorly expanded and rounded nasals and peculiarities of the teeth".<ref name="Merriam">{{cite journal | author = Merriam, CH | year = 1901 | title = Six new mammals from Cozumel Island, Yucatan | journal = Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington | volume = 14 | pages = 99–104}}</ref> Its reduced teeth point to a long period of isolation.<ref name="Goldman1950">{{cite journal | author = Goldman, EA | year = 1950 | title = Raccoons of North and Middle America | journal = North American Fauna | volume = 60 | pages = 1–153}}</ref> The Cozumel Raccoon is an example of [[insular dwarfism]], weighing only 3-4 [[Kilogram|kg]] in average.
Merriam described the Cozumel Raccoon as being markedly smaller, both externally and cranially and easy to distinguish from the Common Raccoon because of its "broad black throat band and golden yellow tail, short posteriorly expanded and rounded nasals and peculiarities of the teeth".<ref name="Merriam">{{cite journal | author = Merriam, CH | year = 1901 | title = Six new mammals from Cozumel Island, Yucatan | journal = Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington | volume = 14 | pages = 99–104}}</ref> Its reduced teeth point to a long period of isolation.<ref name="Goldman1950">{{cite journal | author = Goldman, EA | year = 1950 | title = Raccoons of North and Middle America | journal = North American Fauna | volume = 60 | pages = 1–153 | doi = 10.3996/nafa.60.0001}}</ref> The Cozumel Raccoon is an example of [[insular dwarfism]], weighing only 3-4 [[Kilogram|kg]] in average.


== Natural History ==
== Natural History ==
The Pygmy raccoon goes by a variety of common names. This raccoon is also known as the Dwarf raccoon, Cozumel Island raccoon, Cozumel raccoon, and Cozumel raccoon bears <ref name="IUCN"/>. According to the IUCN Red List, they are considered critically endangered <ref name="IUCN"/>. In fact, they report that only about 250-300 individuals are left on the planet <ref name="IUCN"/> <ref name="McFadden2004"> {{cite journal | author = McFadden, K. W. | year = 2004 | title = The ecology, evolution, and natural history of the endangered carnivores of Cozumel Island, Mexico. | journal = PhD Dissertation, Columbia University, New York.}} </ref>. These raccoons are so extremely endangered because of their small geographic range. They are endemic to a small island off the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, called Cozumel Island <ref name="McFaddenSambrottoMedellinGompper2006"> {{cite journal | author = McFadden KW, Sambrotto RN, Medellín RA, Gompper ME | year = 2006 | title = Feeding habits of endangered pygmy raccoons (Procyon pygmaeus) based on stable isotope and fecal analyses.| journal = J Mammal | volume = 87 | pages = 501–509}} </ref>. Endemic simply means that they exist nowhere else on the planet. Cozumel Island supports several other carnivores including the dwarf coati (Nasua nelsoni) and dwarf gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) <ref name="McFaddenGarcia-VascoCuaronValenzuela-GalvanMedellinGompper2009"> {{cite journal | author = McFadden, K.W., D. Garci’a-Vasco, A. D. Cuaro’n, D. Valenzuela-Galva’n, R. A. Medelli’n, and M. E. Gompper.| year = 2009 | title = Vulnerable island carnivores: the endangered endemic dwarf procyonids from Cozumel Island. | journal = Biodiversity Conservation | volume = Online}} </ref><ref name="CuaronMartinez-MoralesMcFaddenValenzuelaGompper2004"> {{cite journal | author = Cuaron, A.D., Martinez-Morales M.A., McFadden K.W., Valenzuela D., Gompper M.E. | year = 2004 | title = The status of dwarf carnivores on Cozumel Island, Mexico | journal = Biodivers Conserv | volume = 13 | pages = 317–331}} </ref>. Islands usually lack terrestrial mammals, especially carnivores making the pygmy raccoon and the others unique <ref name="AlcoverMcMinn1994"> {{cite journal | author = Alcover, J.A. and M. McMinn. | year = 1994 | title = Predators of vertebrates on islands | journal = Bioscience | volume = 44 | pages = 12–18}} </ref>.
The Pygmy raccoon goes by a variety of common names. This raccoon is also known as the Dwarf raccoon, Cozumel Island raccoon, Cozumel raccoon, and Cozumel raccoon bears <ref name="IUCN"/>. According to the IUCN Red List, they are considered critically endangered <ref name="IUCN"/>. In fact, they report that only about 250-300 individuals are left on the planet <ref name="IUCN"/> <ref name="McFadden2004"> {{cite journal | author = McFadden, K. W. | year = 2004 | title = The ecology, evolution, and natural history of the endangered carnivores of Cozumel Island, Mexico. | journal = PhD Dissertation, Columbia University, New York.}} </ref>. These raccoons are so extremely endangered because of their small geographic range. They are endemic to a small island off the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, called Cozumel Island <ref name="McFaddenSambrottoMedellinGompper2006"> {{cite journal | author = McFadden KW, Sambrotto RN, Medellín RA, Gompper ME | year = 2006 | title = Feeding habits of endangered pygmy raccoons (Procyon pygmaeus) based on stable isotope and fecal analyses.| journal = J Mammal | volume = 87 | pages = 501–509 | doi = 10.1644/05-MAMM-A-150R1.1}} </ref>. Endemic simply means that they exist nowhere else on the planet. Cozumel Island supports several other carnivores including the dwarf coati (Nasua nelsoni) and dwarf gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) <ref name="McFaddenGarcia-VascoCuaronValenzuela-GalvanMedellinGompper2009"> {{cite journal | author = McFadden, K.W., D. Garci’a-Vasco, A. D. Cuaro’n, D. Valenzuela-Galva’n, R. A. Medelli’n, and M. E. Gompper.| year = 2009 | title = Vulnerable island carnivores: the endangered endemic dwarf procyonids from Cozumel Island. | journal = Biodiversity Conservation | volume = Online}} </ref><ref name="CuaronMartinez-MoralesMcFaddenValenzuelaGompper2004"> {{cite journal | author = Cuaron, A.D., Martinez-Morales M.A., McFadden K.W., Valenzuela D., Gompper M.E. | year = 2004 | title = The status of dwarf carnivores on Cozumel Island, Mexico | journal = Biodivers Conserv | volume = 13 | pages = 317–331 | doi = 10.1023/B:BIOC.0000006501.80472.cc}} </ref>. Islands usually lack terrestrial mammals, especially carnivores making the pygmy raccoon and the others unique <ref name="AlcoverMcMinn1994"> {{cite journal | author = Alcover, J.A. and M. McMinn. | year = 1994 | title = Predators of vertebrates on islands | journal = Bioscience | volume = 44 | pages = 12–18 | doi = 10.2307/1312401 | url = http://jstor.org/stable/1312401 | issue = 1}} </ref>.


== Preferred Habitat ==
== Preferred Habitat ==

Revision as of 00:27, 7 July 2010

Cozumel Raccoon[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Family:
Procyonidae
Genus:
Procyon
Species:
P. pygmaeus
Binomial name
Procyon pygmaeus
(Merriam, 1901)

The Cozumel Raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus), also called the Pygmy Raccoon,[3] is a critically endangered species of raccoon endemic on Cozumel Island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.[2][4]

Classification

Clinton Hart Merriam first described the Cozumel Raccoon as morphologically distinctive from its mainland relative, the Common Raccoon subspecies Procyon lotor hernandezii, in 1901. Since then, other scientists have generally agreed with Merriam's assessment, especially Kristofer M. Helgen and Don E. Wilson who have dismissed this classification for the other four island raccoons in their studies in 2003 and 2005.[3][5] Therefore, the Cozumel Raccoon was listed as the only distinct species of the genus Procyon besides the Common Raccoon and the Crab-eating Raccoon in the third edition of Mammal Species of the World.[1] An archaeological study showed that Maya from Cozumel used raccoons of reduced stature, which suggests that the size reduction of this raccoon is not a recent phenomenon.[6]

Description

Merriam described the Cozumel Raccoon as being markedly smaller, both externally and cranially and easy to distinguish from the Common Raccoon because of its "broad black throat band and golden yellow tail, short posteriorly expanded and rounded nasals and peculiarities of the teeth".[7] Its reduced teeth point to a long period of isolation.[8] The Cozumel Raccoon is an example of insular dwarfism, weighing only 3-4 kg in average.

Natural History

The Pygmy raccoon goes by a variety of common names. This raccoon is also known as the Dwarf raccoon, Cozumel Island raccoon, Cozumel raccoon, and Cozumel raccoon bears [2]. According to the IUCN Red List, they are considered critically endangered [2]. In fact, they report that only about 250-300 individuals are left on the planet [2] [9]. These raccoons are so extremely endangered because of their small geographic range. They are endemic to a small island off the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, called Cozumel Island [10]. Endemic simply means that they exist nowhere else on the planet. Cozumel Island supports several other carnivores including the dwarf coati (Nasua nelsoni) and dwarf gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) [11][12]. Islands usually lack terrestrial mammals, especially carnivores making the pygmy raccoon and the others unique [13].

Preferred Habitat

On the island, they exist only in very specific habitats under certain conditions. Their preferred habitats are limited to the mangrove forests and wetlands in the northwest tip of the island [10]. In these mangrove stands, they tend to prefer the sandy soils that are present here [12]. They have also been captured during population studies in small portions of the semi-evergreen forests surrounding these preferred habitats [11]. Nowhere else on the island do they exist, causing an already limited range to be further reduced by a specific habitat.

Group Size

Relatively little is known about the group size of the raccoons. They are thought to be solitary and may sometimes form family groups possibly consisting of the mother and cubs [12].

Home Range and Territoriality

The raccoons live in densities of about 17-27 individuals per km2 [11]. McFadden et al. (2009) have presented unpublished data suggesting that the raccoons’ total home range size is about 0.65 ± 0.26 km2 [11]. There is not much evidence suggesting that individuals defend territories to a great extent. Their close relative, the common raccoon (Procyon lotor) can exist at very high densities when food is abundant however [14]. This may suggest that the pygmy raccoons also do not defend territories extensively, namely during high food abundances.

Overall Diet

The habitat specificity of pygmy raccoons is in large part due to the type of foods they consume. Their overall diet consists of crabs, fruit, frogs, lizards, and insects [10]. They are a generalist omnivore, but crabs make up most of their diet. In fact, over 50% of their diet is made of crabs [10]. Their diet is somewhat seasonal [10]. During the wet season, fruit and vegetation are more abundant and become a large portion of the raccoons’ diet. Then in the dry season, they begin to consume more of the crabs, insects, lizards, etc. Being that crabs comprise the majority of the food they eat, this could be the reason their distribution is so limited. They stay near the water where crabs are abundant.

Morphological Specializations

A large amount of research has been performed to determine whether the pygmy raccoon is indeed a separate species from the common raccoon. Cuaron et al. (2004) reports that research conducted by many different scholars concludes that they are separate species[12]. Body size and cranium size have been reported to be smaller in P. pygmaeus, hence the name pygmy. Other morphological differences reported by Cuaron et al. (2004) include a broad black throat band, golden yellow tail, reduced teeth, and “that these and other characteristics point to a long period of isolation” [12].

Threats to Species Survival

Island carnivores at the top of the food chain often become extinct soon after the arrival of humans [13]. The main danger to the pygmy raccoon is development of Cozumel due to the tourism industry [15]. Because the raccoons are only located in a small coastal area at the northwest corner of the island- an area coveted for development- the effects of habitat loss are especially severe [15]. There are no laws protecting the raccoons and also no land set aside for them [15]. Newer threats to their survival that have been researched in recent years are diseases and parasites [16]. Cozumel has a population of feral cats and domestic cats and dogs that can transmit diseases to the raccoons [16]. On average, there are about 2 different species present in each host. That is not overall abundance, but simply the absolute number of species found. Some captured raccoons had developed antibodies to certain diseases. Cats are only newly introduced on the island due to humans bringing them as pets [16].

Conservation Actions

One conservation approach would be to reduce or even eliminate human impact on the mangrove forests, especially in the northwest corner of the island [11]. This would constitute the halting of development in this area and to establish protected land for the raccoons. This land to be set aside would include the habitat that is crucial to the survival of the species, most importantly the mangrove forests and surrounding semi-evergreen forests. Another method that could help to restore the populations is captive breeding techniques [15]. If they willingly reproduce in captivity as the common raccoons do, it could be used successfully. Additionally, the arrival of pets, especially feral cats, brought more diseases and parasites that are having a significant effect on the raccoons. The best method of reducing these impacts is to remove as many feral cats as possible. For any conservation action to be successful, conservation personnel will need to find a way to compromise with the tourism industry to save the pygmy raccoons [15]. Glatston (1994) also urges researchers to continue examining the species to assure that the pygmy is a distinct species from its mainland sister taxon [15].


References

  1. ^ a b Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 627–628. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ a b c d e Template:IUCN2008
  3. ^ a b Helgen, Kristofer M. (2005). "A Systematic and Zoogeographic Overview of the Raccoons of Mexico and Central America". In Sánchez-Cordero, Víctor; Medellín, Rodrigo A. (ed.). Contribuciones mastozoológicas en homenaje a Bernardo Villa. Mexico City: Instituto de Ecología of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. pp. 221–236. ISBN 978-9703226030. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  4. ^ Zeveloff, Samuel I. (2002). Raccoons: A Natural History. Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Books. p. 45. ISBN 978-1588340337. (This source was used for the whole article unless noted otherwise.)
  5. ^ Helgen, Kristofer M. (2003). "Taxonomic status and conservation relevance of the raccoons (Procyon spp.) of the West Indies". Journal of Zoology. 259 (1). Oxford: The Zoological Society of London: 69–76. doi:10.1017/S0952836902002972. ISSN 0952-8369. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Hamblin, NL (1984). Animal Use by the Cozumel Maya. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press.
  7. ^ Merriam, CH (1901). "Six new mammals from Cozumel Island, Yucatan". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 14: 99–104.
  8. ^ Goldman, EA (1950). "Raccoons of North and Middle America". North American Fauna. 60: 1–153. doi:10.3996/nafa.60.0001.
  9. ^ McFadden, K. W. (2004). "The ecology, evolution, and natural history of the endangered carnivores of Cozumel Island, Mexico". PhD Dissertation, Columbia University, New York.
  10. ^ a b c d e McFadden KW, Sambrotto RN, Medellín RA, Gompper ME (2006). "Feeding habits of endangered pygmy raccoons (Procyon pygmaeus) based on stable isotope and fecal analyses". J Mammal. 87: 501–509. doi:10.1644/05-MAMM-A-150R1.1.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b c d e McFadden, K.W., D. Garci’a-Vasco, A. D. Cuaro’n, D. Valenzuela-Galva’n, R. A. Medelli’n, and M. E. Gompper. (2009). "Vulnerable island carnivores: the endangered endemic dwarf procyonids from Cozumel Island". Biodiversity Conservation. Online.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ a b c d e Cuaron, A.D., Martinez-Morales M.A., McFadden K.W., Valenzuela D., Gompper M.E. (2004). "The status of dwarf carnivores on Cozumel Island, Mexico". Biodivers Conserv. 13: 317–331. doi:10.1023/B:BIOC.0000006501.80472.cc.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b Alcover, J.A. and M. McMinn. (1994). "Predators of vertebrates on islands". Bioscience. 44 (1): 12–18. doi:10.2307/1312401.
  14. ^ Lotze, J.-H. & Anderson, S. (1979). "Procyon lotor". Mammalian Species. 119: 1–8.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ a b c d e f Glatston, A.R. (Ed.). (1994). "The red panda, olingos, coatis, raccoons, and their relatives: status survey and conservation action plan for procyonids and ailurids". Gland, Switzerland: IUCN (World Conservation Union).
  16. ^ a b c McFadden, K.W., Wade, S.E., Dubovi, E.J., and Gompper, M.E. (2005). "A serology and fecal parsitology survey of the critically endangered pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus)". J Wildlife Diseases. 41: 615–617.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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