Bahaman raccoon

The Bahaman raccoon (Procyon maynardi or Procyon lotor maynardi), also called Bahama raccoon or Bahamas raccoon, is a subspecies of the common raccoon endemic on the New Providence Island in the Bahamas.

Classification

Thought to be a distinct species in the past, the Bahaman raccoon is now assumed to be conspecific with the common raccoon, what was also the result of a study of morphological and genetic analysis in 2003. The assumption that its occurence on the Bahamas is the result of a human-sponsored introduction just a few centuries ago is supported by the fact that the Bahaman raccoon seems to be closely related to the Guadeloupe raccoon found on Guadeloupe, an archipelago nearly 2,000 km (1,243 mi) away.

Description

The Bahaman raccoon is small compared to the average size of the common raccoon, making it probably an example of insular dwarfism. Its delicate skull and dentition are similar to the ones of the Guadeloupe raccoon and the small subspecies of the Florida Keys. The coat is gray with a slight ocher tint on the neck and shoulders and the mask is interrupted by a distinct gap between the eyes. On the underparts, only few guard hairs cover the ground hairs.

Conservation

In 1996, the Bahaman raccoon was classified as endangered by the IUCN because its population is severely fragmented and the population number of less than 2,500 mature individuals has continued to decline. Considering its small range, the Bahaman raccoon was most likely never numerous, just as well as the other island raccoons (Cozumel raccoon, Tres Marias raccoon, Guadeloupe raccoon and the extinct Barbados raccoon). So far, no conservation efforts have been made to protect the species from extinction.

On the other hand, the authors of the study Taxonomic status and conservation relevance of the raccoons (Procyon spp.) of the West Indies (2003) hold that the Bahaman raccoon is an invasive species which itself poses a threat to the insular ecosystem.

References