Japanese Raccoon Dog

Endemic to the woodlands, grasslands, and urban areas of Japan, the Japanese raccoon dog (or Nyctereutes viverrinus) is a small species of canid. It is also known as the tanuki. As the name suggests, it is raccoon-like in appearance, with thick, reddish fur under a grey topcoat, black legs, and a black stripe down the spine and tail. It has pointed ears with black rims, black markings under the eyes and throat, and white fur on snout, ears, and above the eyes. Males and females look the same, with females being a little larger on average. They measure 45cm to 71cm in body length and weigh between 3kg and 7kg.