Understanding Tanuki: Not a Raccoon

The tanuki is an inquisitive mammal that would not be misplaced with raccoon. So, take note that tanuki are not raccoons. Tanuki is one of the popular suit types and in this article, we will take a look at what tanuki type of animal it really refers to.

What is a Tanuki?

Tanuki — member of the Canidae It also includes dogs, wolves , and foxes. Nyctereutes procyonoides — Tanuki A bit more of a mouthful, but it works well for those scientists who really need to ID that tanuki. Born in East. Asia; namely places like Japan & China (keep reading for more info).

Appearance and Behavior

A little advantage that the tanuki could remember. Their fur is thick and grayish-brown. Fur that for some reason reminds one of a raccoon, as well as specific “mask” on their faces. Still, tanuki usually are not as large as a raccoon.

Tanuki: These are funny animals. They are also largely nocturnal, or more active during the night. They are inquisitive creatures who love to roam around and discover the world a bit. Tanuki is also known to be quite gregarious. They have also been known to live in groups, easily communicating with one another.

Tanuki in Culture

In Japan the Tanuki is indeed a specific character in culture and folklore. The playful, trickster raccoon dogs or tanuki then appear in their purest form. They show up in lots of stories and are sometimes depicted as shapeshifters. The tanuki is a common character in Japanese art with his large size and drunk antics often found lugging an oversized sake bottle or sporting a simple straw hat.

Conclusion

So in conclusion, though they might be said to resemble the raccoon within their species name but tanuki are of Canidae family and that is where any resemblance stops. Tanuki are interesting animals, with something of an unusual behavior and a lot more cultural import. Now the next time you come across a tanuki, I hope this will help enforce how cool of an animal these are and totally different from raccoons!