Raccoons are small, heavily-built mammals and the largest members of the procyonid family.
Native to North and Central America, raccoons are one of the world’s adaptable creatures, as they can live in marshes, forests, and prairies.
The mammals also don’t shy away from urban areas and near homes as they’re fond of making dens in abandoned structures.
First, due to their ringed tails and distinctive face, that make the animals look like they’re wearing a mask.
Second, raccoons are brilliant animals with a high intelligent quotient (IQ), closer to monkeys.
But can you find other animals comparable to raccoons?
And in this article, we’ll look at 13 animals similar to raccoons.
But before diving in, let’s learn a few things about the raccoons so we can point out the similarities.
Physical characteristics; raccoons have short legs, pointed muzzles, and small, slightly rounded ears.
They have a mask of black fur around the eyes, and the rest of the body adorns a grey or brown coat.
Their bushy tails have alternating black and white stripes.
Growing to about 60-95 centimeters, these ringtailed animals have a life span of around three years.
Raccoons’ diet; raccoons are omnivores whose diet is determined by their surroundings.
Raccoons’ behavior; The animals are semi-social.
They’re nocturnal, and in winter months in cold climates, the animals sleep for long periods, although they don’t hibernate like bears.
15 Awesome Animals Similar to Raccoons
Also known as coatimundis, coatis are small mammals native to forests of South America, Central America, and Mexico.
Coatimundis are just but big brothers of raccoons because they resemble each other with their distinctive black facial masks and long, ringed tails.
What’s more, as both animals belong to the same family, they share several other similarities as relatives, apart from their appearances.
Coatis exhibit a similar feeding behavior as are omnivores, with their diet consisting of invertebrates and plant materials such as fruits and nuts.
Furthermore, coatimundis are intelligent creatures, like their relatives, which is why the animals are highly adaptable.
Also, the curious coatis are experts at climbing trees, thanks to their strong claws.
The prime difference between the two animals is size.
Also, coatis are diurnal and are social creatures that you can often see in bands, unlike their cousins.
Cacomistles are small, agile mammals closely related to raccoons as they belong to the same Procyonidae family.
Native to Central and South America, cacomistles prefer diverse habitats, including tropical forests and evergreen woodlands.
Because both animals are greyish and nearly the same size, you can mistake cacomistles with raccoons.
They resemble each other, with cacomistles adorning the raccoons’ long, bushy ringed tails and the black facial mask.
Not only appearances, but cacomistles also share some of the raccoons’ behaviors.
Although entirely arboreal, cacomistles are active at night like their cousins and do not prefer company.
They also share similar diets; meat mainly from invertebrates, fruits, and nuts.
The main difference between the two animals is that while the cacomistles are entirely arboreal, raccoons sometimes can spend their days in hollow logs.
The nearly extinct red pandas are small adorable mammals that live in the rainy mountain forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal, central China, and Myanmar.
Red pandas were previously placed under the same family as the raccoons until recent research classified the cute creatures in their own family; Ailuridae.
That’s said, red pandas have a lot to share with raccoons, physically and behavioral.
If you exclude the body color, red pandas look like raccoons.
They’re the same size as their once relatives and boast long bushy tails.
Red pandas also have a mask, although theirs is white.
They have sharp retractable claws, which make the animals expert tree climbers like raccoons.
What’s more, red pandas are solitary and territorial creatures that mark their boundaries with urine.
They’re also nocturnal, like raccoons.
But while both share the same diet, red pandas often munch on bamboo leaves and will only eat meat if an opportunity comes, unlike their distant cousins.
Badgers are small yet stocky mammals from the Mustelidae family living in various parts of the world.
Badgers might belong to a different family, but that doesn’t stop these aggressive creatures from having similarities with raccoons.
Like raccoons, all badgers are short-legged and have sharp claws for digging.
Also, badgers have a taste of forest habitats, meadows, and urban areas, like raccoons, and prefer living in tunnels.
Both animals also exhibit behavioral similarities, with some species of badgers, such as wolverines choosing sem-social lives.
Badgers also share raccoons’ omnivorous diet.
Olingos are small mammals from the Procyonidae family, which inhabit the jungles of South and Central America.
Since olingos come from the same family as raccoons, you can guess both animals share some characteristics.
Olingos have bodies built relatively the same as raccoons with the same pointed muzzles and round ears, and although they lack the facial mask, they have long, bushy tails with faint rings like their cousins.
Olingos are also omnivores, like their counterparts, although most of their diet comes from fruits.
Other behaviors olingos share with raccoons is preferring solitary lives, although sometimes you can find the former in climbing trees in pairs.
The main difference between the two is that olingos are entirely arboreal, and their bushy tails have only faint rings, unlike the raccoons.
Ringtailed cats are small mammals and close relatives of raccoons that inhabit the dry and rocky regions of the Southernwesstern United States and Mexico.
Apart from the long Whiskers, ring tailed cats resemble raccoons in many ways.
The cats are built like raccoons with small rounded ears, pointed muzzles, and a black facial mask.
They also have long distinctive bushy tails with rings all over that, alongside the sharp claws, make the animals expert tree climbers, like their cousins.
Both animals prefer the same foods and exhibit several similar behaviors, with the cats preferring to forage at night and sleep in dens during the day.
While you might confuse the two, if you’re keen, you can notice that ringtailed cats wear some Whiskers on their faces.
The other difference is that the cats are entirely solitary creatures, and you can only find them in pairs during the breeding season.
Belonging to a newly found genus, the olinguitos are the smallest members of the Procyonidae family.
The small mammals predominantly live in the Andes mountain ranges of Ecuador and Colombia, where they prefer high canopies of tropical evergreen forests with high humidity and low cloud cover.
Like other procyonids on our list, olinguitos are similar to raccoons in several respects.
Body-wise, olinguitos are built the same way as raccoons, as they also have long fingers with small but sharp claws to allow great dexterity like their relatives.
Plus, they have long, bushy ringed tails that make these small mammals adept tree climbers like their bigger cousins.
Appearances aside, both animals exhibit some behavioral similarities, with olinguitos preferring an omnivorous diet and foraging at night.
The main difference is olinguitos, although smaller than raccoons, have large eyes and are solitary animals.
Kinkajous are small mammals that live in tropical rainforests in Central and South America.
They look like primates but are procyonids, closely related to the red panda.
Like raccoons, kinkajous boast five toes with sharp claws, which, although not as skillful as their cousins, help the animals climb from tree to tree effortlessly.
Also, kinkajous have long bushy tails to complete the list of the main physical similarities with raccoons.
Behavior-wise, kinkajous are nocturnal creatures like their relatives and also omnivores.
But unlike raccoons who only socialize when feeding and mating, kinkajous are highly social creatures that can meet for various purposes such as grooming each other.
The other notable difference is kinkajous are smaller than their cousins and lack rings on their tails.
Also called Japanese dogs, raccoon dogs are small mammals from the Canidae family.
While raccoon dogs belong to a different family and may have fox-like appearances, that doesn’t stop them from sharing several characteristics with the common raccoons.
Both animals share robust bodies, mask-like hairs around the face, small heads, and small eyes.
Furthermore, Japanese dogs, like their namesakes, boast of dexterous front paws that help the animals climb trees effortlessly and hold slippery prey.
Also, both animals share the same type of food.
The main difference between the two is the Japanese dogs are more heavily built but smaller in size than the common raccoons.
Also, the dogs prefer a social life, unlike their counterparts.
About the size of a medium dog, wolverines are the largest land-dwelling members of the family Mustelidae.
Although wolverines have dark oily fur and elongated bodies, the animals are still similar to raccoons in some respects.
They all have small eyes, short, rounded ears on their tiny heads, and five dexterous front toes, which make wolverines expert tree climbers.
They’re also slightly longer than raccoons.
Growing to about 50 centimeters, ferrets are small domesticated species from the Mustelidae family.
Ferrets may not share many physical characteristics with the raccoons like most animals on our list.
That said, these domesticated mammals are considered similar to raccoons as they have five dexterous toes, tiny heads, and small rounded ears.
They also have bushy tails, although they lack rings.
Some varieties of ferrets have brown fur, meaning you can mistake them for raccoons if it were not for their elongated bodies.
North American River Otter is a small semi-aquatic mammal found near coasts and waterways in the North American continent.
Although these otters are elongated, they’re still stout and have five toes on their front legs like raccoons.
Other similar physical characteristics include long tails and small rounded ears.
However, the elongated necks and slender bodies of North American otters make identifying the two animals an easy task.
The other difference is you can only find otters near water bodies, unlike their counterparts.
Weasels are small active predators from the Mustelidae family, found in various parts of the world, including Africa, America, and Eurasia.
According to DNA evidence, weasels are close relatives of raccoons.
That probably explains why the Weasels are adaptable to live in various habitats, including wooded areas, open fields, roadsides, and farmlands, like their distant cousins.
Both animals share some physical characteristics, including small heads, tiny rounded ears, and dexterous toes for climbing trees.
However, weasels stand out with their slender bodies and elongated necks.
Stoats are small mustelids native to Eurasia and parts of North America.
Apart from short, rounded ears, and long tails, stoats do not share a lot with raccoons in terms of physical appearances.
They, however, exhibit some behavioral characteristics associated with the raccoons, such as marking their territories, and will also confront any intruders.
Both animals also live in tunnels, although stoats do not put effort into making them, unlike the raccoons.
But although similar in some respects, the difference between stoats and raccoons is apparent.
The sun bear is the smallest bear, native to Southeast Asia, where it inhabits tropical forests.
The last animal on our list has the fewest similarities with the raccoons.
Although you can tell the difference with little effort thanks to the bear’s black fur and big size, the arboreal animal bear some physical resemblance to the raccoons with their small muzzles and small rounded ears.
Sun bears are also stout and are adapted to climbing trees.
What’s more, sun bears are omnivores to complete their few similarities with the raccoons.
Zoo Animals Coloring Book
Animals that look like raccoons include Cacomistle, Coatis, Kinkajous, Kudamundi, and Nasua
Have you ever seen an animal and thought it looked like a raccoon?
Many animals share features with raccoons, but there are some that look more similar than others.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at animals that resemble raccoons in appearance and behavior.
We’ll also discuss the differences between these animals and raccoons, so you can better understand each one.
Examples of Animals that Look Like Raccoons
Examples of Animals that Look Like Raccoons
Scientific NameBassaricyonType of AnimalMammalRangemontane forests in the Andes of western Colombia and Ecuador
Also known as the olingo, the bassaricyon is a species of nocturnal mammal that is closely related to the raccoon.
These animals are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, and they share many similarities with raccoons, including their bushy tails and masked faces.
However, bassaricyons are much smaller than raccoons, measuring only about 20 inches in length.
They are also proficient climbers and are known to build nests in trees.
The bassaricyon is an omnivorous creature, and its diet consists of fruits, insects, small mammals, and reptiles.
These animals are mostly active at night, and they use their sharp claws and teeth to capture prey.
This animal is a solitary creature, and it is seldom seen in groups.
These animals are generally shy and reclusive, but they can be aggressive if they feel threatened.
The main threats to these animals include habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting, and disease.
The cacomistle is another nocturnal mammal that is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Like the bassaricyon, these animals resemble raccoons in appearance, with their bushy tails and masked faces.
Cacomistles are also good climbers and often build nests in trees.
Cacomistles are omnivorous animals, feeding on a variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fruits, and nuts.
Scientific NameNasua nasuaType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth, Central and South America, ranging from Arizona to Argentina
Coatis are a type of mammal that is found in the forests of Central and South America.
These animals are similar to raccoons in appearance, with their masked faces and bushy tails.
Coatis are also good climbers and often build nests in trees.
However, they are larger than both bassaricyons and cacomistles, measuring up to four feet in length.
Coatis are omnivores, eating both plants and animals.
Their diet consists of fruits, nuts, insects, lizards, and small mammals.
Coatis are social animals that live in groups of up to 30 individuals.
Males typically live alone or in small groups.
Scientific NamePotos flavusType of AnimalMammalRangeCentral and South America
Kinkajous are small mammals that are native to Central and South America.
They are closely related to raccoons, so it’s no surprise that they look similar.
Kinkajous have long, furry tails and black masks around their eyes.
They are also proficient climbers, just like raccoons.
One major difference between kinkajous and raccoons is their size.
Kinkajous are much smaller than raccoons, averaging only about 20 inches in length.
Another difference is that kinkajous are mostly fruit eaters, while raccoons are omnivores.
This means that kinkajous eat mostly plants, while raccoons will also eat insects, small animals, and garbage.
Scientific NameNasua nasuaType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth and South America
Like raccoons, kudamundis have a black mask around their eyes.
They also have a long, bushy tail that they use for balance when climbing trees.
One difference between kudamundis and raccoons is that kudamundis are much more proficient climbers.
They have sharp claws that help them grip tree branches, and they can climb head-first down trees.
Raccoons are also good climbers, but they typically climb slower and are not as agile as kudamundis.
Another difference is that kudamundis are mostly insectivores, while raccoons are omnivores.
This means that kudamundis eat mostly insects, while raccoons will also eat plants, small animals, and garbage.
The lesser panda looks similar to a raccoon in both appearance and behavior.
These animals have reddish-brown fur, bushy tails, and black masks around their eyes.
Like raccoons, lesser pandas are good climbers and spend time in trees.
The lesser panda is found in the mountains of central and southern China.
The lesser panda is a threatened species.
Hunting and habitat loss have led to a decline in the population of these animals.
As a result, the lesser panda continues to face significant threats to its survival.
Scientific NameNasuaType of AnimalMammalRangeSouth America
The next animal on our list is the Nasua.
The Nasua is a member of the family Procyonidae, which includes raccoons, olingos, and ringtails.
It is native to Central and South America, and its appearance is similar to that of a raccoon.
The most notable difference between the two animals is the size; Nasua is about twice the size of raccoons.
They also have longer noses and tails, and their fur is usually lighter in color.
The Northern cacomistle is another member of the Procyonidae family.
It is found in Mexico, Central America, and the southwestern United States.
Like the Nasua, it shares many features with raccoons.
However, it is smaller than the average raccoon and has a longer tail.
The Northern cacomistle is nocturnal and arboreal, meaning it sleeps in trees during the day and comes out at night to look for food.
It is an omnivore, eating both plants and animals.
It is an omnivore, eating both plants and animals.
Read Also: Are Raccoons Omnivores?
Scientific NameBassaricyonType of AnimalMammalRangethe jungles of Central and northern South America
The olingo is a nocturnal animal that is closely related to the raccoon.
They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Olingos have long, bushy tails and dark fur with light-colored bands.
Their faces are also similar to raccoons, with large eyes, furry ears, and a black “mask” around their eyes.
While olingos do look like raccoons, there are some notable differences.
For one, olingos are much smaller than raccoons.
They also have different diets; while raccoons are omnivorous, olingos primarily eat fruit.
This small mammal is native to the Andean regions of South America and can be found in countries like Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru.
The olinguito is the smallest member of the raccoon family and looks similar to a cross between a teddy bear and a house cat.
They have large eyes, furry tails, and round faces with black masks around their eyes.
Even though olinguitos look like raccoons, there are some key differences between these two animals.
Olinguitos are much smaller than raccoons, weighing in at only 2-4 pounds.
Additionally, olinguitos are nocturnal while raccoons are active during the day.
Raccoon dog
Raccoon dog
Raccoon dog
The raccoon dog is a canid native to East Asia.
It gets its name from its similarities to the North American raccoon, but it’s actually more closely related to foxes and wolves.
Raccoon dogs are small animals with brown or black fur.
They have a long snout, bushy tail, and large ears.
Their face is marked with a black “mask” around their eyes, just like raccoons.
There are several key differences between raccoon dogs and raccoons.
Raccoon dogs have shorter legs and rounder bodies, while raccoons have longer legs and more slender bodies.
Additionally, raccoon dogs are active during the day, while raccoons are nocturnal.
The red panda is a mammal native to the Himalayas and southern China.
It’s one of the only two species in the family Ailuridae and is often referred to as a “firefox” or “lesser panda.” Red pandas are small animals with reddish-brown fur and a long, bushy tail.
They have a white face with black markings around their eyes, similar to a raccoon’s mask.
Even though they look similar, red pandas and raccoons are actually not closely related.
Red pandas are herbivores, while raccoons are omnivores.
Additionally, red pandas have shorter legs and rounder bodies, while raccoons have longer legs and more slender bodies.
Finally, red pandas are excellent climbers, while raccoons are only fair climbers.
Scientific NameBassariscus astutusType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth and South America
Ringtails are small mammals that are native to North and South America.
They get their name from the black and white rings on their tails, which resemble those of a raccoon.
Ringtails are also similar to raccoons in that they have furry bodies, long tail, and sharp claws.
They are good climbers and often build their homes in trees.
One of the main differences between ringtails and raccoons is that ringtails are much smaller.
They also have a different shaped head, with pointy ears, and they typically have a more striped tail.
Ringtails are not as common as raccoons, so you’re less likely to see one in your backyard.
The breed is named after the Japanese raccoon dog, or “tanuki,” which it resembles in appearance.
Tanuki dogs are small to medium-sized dogs with a compact body, thick fur, and a bushy tail.
They typically have brown or black fur, with white markings on the face, chest, and belly.
Tanuki dogs are friendly and intelligent, and they make great companion animals.
Read Next: What Eats Raccoons?
There are many animals in the world that resemble raccoons, but these furry creatures are uniquely adapted to their environment and have many features that set them apart from other animals.
Although they may look similar, raccoons are definitely not related to any other animals.
Their distinctive features, habits, and behaviors make them one of the most interesting animals in the world.
Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.