A nighttime visitor with a dark face and a ringed tail might be a raccoon. Take a closer look at the tail, snout and shape of the face. A ringtail’s huge ears, a coati’s long nose and a raccoon dog’s plain tail tell…
Items 27 The creator’s order
1 Raccoon The reference point is the common raccoon. Its black eye mask is edged in white, its tail is bushy with broad dark rings and its front paws have unusually distinct fingers. Look for all three features together when comparing the other animals. 0 2 Common raccoon dog East Asia’s raccoon dog has a dark mask and shaggy cheeks that can look almost identical from the front. Watch the tail when it turns. It is bushy but lacks the common raccoon’s black rings, and the body and paws are shaped more like a small dog. 0 3 Ringtail The ringtail is a small raccoon relative in the western United States and Mexico. Its large round ears, pointed muzzle and white eye rings stand out. The black-and-white tail looks exceptionally long on its slender body. 0 4 Cacomistle This Central American forest climber looks like an extra-slender ringtail. Look for pointed ears and a long tail whose bold bands tend to fade toward the tip. A common raccoon has smaller ears and a stockier build. 0 5 White-nosed Coati The bands on a white-nosed coati’s upright tail are the first resemblance you may notice. Look for a long, flexible snout with pale markings and a more elongated body. In the United States, look for this coati in the Southwest. 0 6 South American coati Its long, ringed tail can suggest a raccoon when the animal disappears into brush. A long mobile snout, small ears and the habit of carrying the tail upright make this South American coati much easier to recognize in the open. 0 7 Crab-eating raccoon This is a close relative with the familiar mask and banded tail. Look for a shorter coat, a more slender outline and longer legs. Its native range runs through parts of Central and South America rather than across most of the United States. 0 8 Cozumel raccoon The dark mask and ringed tail are immediately familiar, but the Cozumel raccoon is small and its tail can look yellowish. Location is especially helpful because this species is native to the Mexican island of Cozumel. 0 9 Japanese raccoon dog Japan’s tanuki has round ears, a dark mask and a thick coat that can look like a raccoon from the front. The rump ends in a shaggy tail without alternating rings. In Japan, location is the clearest clue when you are comparing it with the mainland raccoon dog. 0 10 Kinkajou A round face, small ears, and large dark eyes can give an animal high in a tropical American tree a raccoon-like look. Watch its long tail. A kinkajou can curl it around a branch for a grip, and there is no set of bold black-and-white rings. 0 
RaccoonThe reference point is the common raccoon. Its black eye mask is edged in white, its tail is bushy with broad dark rings and its front paws have unusually distinct fingers. Look for all three features together when comparing the other animals.0
Common raccoon dogEast Asia’s raccoon dog has a dark mask and shaggy cheeks that can look almost identical from the front. Watch the tail when it turns. It is bushy but lacks the common raccoon’s black rings, and the body and paws are shaped more like a small dog.0
RingtailThe ringtail is a small raccoon relative in the western United States and Mexico. Its large round ears, pointed muzzle and white eye rings stand out. The black-and-white tail looks exceptionally long on its slender body.0
CacomistleThis Central American forest climber looks like an extra-slender ringtail. Look for pointed ears and a long tail whose bold bands tend to fade toward the tip. A common raccoon has smaller ears and a stockier build.0
White-nosed CoatiThe bands on a white-nosed coati’s upright tail are the first resemblance you may notice. Look for a long, flexible snout with pale markings and a more elongated body. In the United States, look for this coati in the Southwest.0
South American coatiIts long, ringed tail can suggest a raccoon when the animal disappears into brush. A long mobile snout, small ears and the habit of carrying the tail upright make this South American coati much easier to recognize in the open.0
Crab-eating raccoonThis is a close relative with the familiar mask and banded tail. Look for a shorter coat, a more slender outline and longer legs. Its native range runs through parts of Central and South America rather than across most of the United States.0
Cozumel raccoonThe dark mask and ringed tail are immediately familiar, but the Cozumel raccoon is small and its tail can look yellowish. Location is especially helpful because this species is native to the Mexican island of Cozumel.0
Japanese raccoon dogJapan’s tanuki has round ears, a dark mask and a thick coat that can look like a raccoon from the front. The rump ends in a shaggy tail without alternating rings. In Japan, location is the clearest clue when you are comparing it with the mainland raccoon dog.0
KinkajouA round face, small ears, and large dark eyes can give an animal high in a tropical American tree a raccoon-like look. Watch its long tail. A kinkajou can curl it around a branch for a grip, and there is no set of bold black-and-white rings.0