Countries and cultures - World regions - Mammals - Japanese wildlife - Japan
Which animal family does the Japanese tanuki belong to despite its raccoon-like appearance?
Correct!
The tanuki, or Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus), has a dark facial mask and can look raccoon-like to many people. Despite that appearance, it does not belong to the raccoon family. ITIS places Nyctereutes viverrinus in the family Canidae. Zoologically, the tanuki is therefore a canid, closer to foxes, wolves and domestic dogs than to raccoons or martens. In Japan, the tanuki is known both as a real wild animal and from folklore and art. For the biological question, the key point is that it belongs to the dog family.
The tanuki belongs to the dog family, even though it can look like a raccoon.
Source: ITIS - Nyctereutes viverrinus
