Organism Profile Assignment: Tanuki-Japanese Raccoon Dog

Tanuki-Japanese Raccoon Dog
Carlise V. Miles
American Military Public
Tanuki-Japanese Raccoon Dog
Abstract
Tanuki-Japanese Raccoon (Nyctereutes procyonoides) also known has known as the mangut or tanuki in Japan, chaun-vulp in Romania, supikoira in Finland and mårdhund in Sweden, is a canid indigenous of East Asia. It is the only existing species in the genus Nyctereutes and considered a basal canid species, resembling ancestral forms of the family Canidie. In the recent years, the raccoon dogs have been spotted outside their historic native locations as they have been spread widely in Northern, Central and Eastern. Raccoon dogs’ native extends extends from Japan, China, Korean Peninsula, to Southeast corner of Russia and Mongolia. In their reproduction system, the raccoon dogs form mating pairs when they go into hibernation from years to years. Their gestation period takes between 59 and 64 days. The raccoon dogs paws characterized by long claws for digging and climbing, thick fluffy fur that enables them to keep warm during winter as well as tough body structure; beneficial for protection against fall from tall trees and deserted buildings. In terms of evolutions, the Canidie family comprise of 34 species of different kind of sizes in terms of limbs, body length and height. From the evolution studies, some species have suppressed genetic divergence at high level of gene flow in several populations where they exist. The raccoon dogs have some benefits ranging from ecosystem roles economic benefits. Concisely, the raccoon dogs’ have high reproduction rate that has furthered its existence and greater adaptations enables it to survive habitats as well as enduring human disturbances in their habitats.
Introduction
Raccoon dogs are one of the most typical dogs in Northern and Central Europe. They are also common within its native range in Asia countries such as Japan, China and Korea. Under, Canis procyonoides, there are six subspecies namely albus, koreensis, orestes, procyonoides, ussuriensis and viverrinus, which links the raccoon family of Canidie which includes wolves, domestic dogs, dingoes and jackals. Additionally, raccoon dogs have two physical habitats; that is mountains near water and deciduous forests or broad-leaved evergreen forests. The the paper focuses on organism intriguing background, life cycle, evolutionary history, anatomy well as adaptation and interest. Lastly, the research examines the crucial part of a unique tradition with indigenous peoples of East Asia and Northern Europe.
Background
To the subject to some likely reducing numbers locally, there are no critical indication that hints that the raccoon dogs are at any risk of extinction, and is listed as least concern. The Raccoon dog resembles a small fox- like canid as its body is covered heavy fur that looks similar to those of raccoon of the North America (Nyctereutes procyonoidesraccoon dog, 2016). The fur are long and dense because they mainly occur in deep forests and in regions characterized by cold winter. It is distinctive feature is the smaller head ratio to body; the greatest head length is approximately 133 mm. The head is characterized by pointed low-profile rostra. In addition, the dog has an omnivorous dental formula, whereby it has Incisors 3/3, canine 1/1, premolars 4/4, and molars 2/2 or 3/3: All totaling to 42 or 44. Their carnassial teeth are small in size but have relatively large molars. Concerning body size, both male and female have heights that ranges from 38.1 cm to 50.8 cm. The length between the heads and rumps ranges from 50 to 68 cm with males appearing bigger. In an inclusive appearance, raccoon’s dogs overall body is stocky with a short legs (Nyctereutes procyonoidesraccoon dog, 2016). The dogs weight ranges from 4 to 6kg in the summer and from 6 to 10kg in the winter before they could go for hibernation. However, the raccoon dogs in Europe; Finland and Denmark, tend to be larger compared to those in Japan, China and other part so of East Asia. These discrepancy can be attributed to the existence of other Nyctereutes procyonoides’ subspecies Across Europe and Asia (Barrows, 2011).
In addition, raccoon’s dog furs is soft and dense especially in males. The head is colored with white muzzle, white face and deep black turfed furs surrounding close to the eyes. The general body color is shadowy brown to yellow- brown dorsally but the coloring tend to vary in terms of brown pigmentation. Some furs are longer, tripped black and are mostly located at the dorsal parts (Barrows, 2011). On the belly parts, some have tan or lighter brown fur. Their chest and limbs are black and brown in color. Their tails are bushy, thick and black dorsally with light- yellow pigmentation and ventrally with a black tip. Furthermore, they have black markings that transverse across both shoulders and down the back that appear form a cross-like shape. Its ears are small and rounded in shape (Barrows, 2011). The ears are also covered with black hairs with sheds of white hair inside.
Life Cycle
In their reproduction system, the raccoon dogs form mating pair when they go to hibernation from years to year. The raccoon dogs in Finland are reported to exhibit monogamy among pairs. However, instance of polygamy has been reported among the Japanese and China raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoidesraccoon dog, 20...