Wildlife Spotting

The Cozumel Raccoon is endemic to the Yucatan peninsula, so I can't imagine it would be this one, although we do not have geographical info about the origin of the collection. That raccoon is a rare species, so if really a rare species would be in a collection, that I assume it would be correctly labelled. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Raccoons_of_North_%26_Middle_America_(1950)_P._lotor_%26_P._pygmaeus.png

What about Cozumel raccoon? Wikipedia has a skull comparison, and the Os zygomaticus looks more like yours. (I have a couple of Procyon lotor skulls in front of me, since they live here in NC) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cozumel_raccoon

Then you have to try to get to the origin of the collection or try to get more infos about the genus' of different racoons. If it is the same you can take te genus name. If not, we have a problem...

Procyon lotor. In your area there is only one species of coons and it is the same one which is found in Europe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon

Good job, I am happy now with the Zygomaticus. For me it is now clear that it is a juvenile racoon.

I immediately (although it is now already 2 weeks ago) thought it should be a racoon, checked hundreds of pictures of all kind of mammals in your area and still tending to racoon. However, the Os zygomaticus is atypical, very straight, not curved at all, which would actually rule out racoon and weasels and skunks and all the others. I am not sure of during age developement the Os zygomaticus would change in that manner and extension. The teeth are also different.

Okay, so this skull made the most seasoned skull experts scratch their head. After much research I am now 90% sure it's just a juvenile raccoon skull. I still need to do a little more research but due to the size raccoon just seems to fit. Sorry... I got a little too excited there...

Sorry, I was out of town... didn't mean to do that to you! ;) I still don't have a positive ID. Since this skull could literally be from anywhere it is hard to narrow down. It could be a bear cub. (which is what I first thought) But it is SO small! It could also be a coatimundi, but I need to research this more. It is still very possible this is a juvenile raccoon. I haven't been able to do much research since you provided additional pictures. Now that I am back in town I will! Sorry to leave you hanging!

Thanks Eleman! These are super helpful additions. It's not a dog. I think I know what it is but I want to confirm with a colleague of mine... If it is what I think it is...I am very jealous of your find! Stay tuned...

Thanks Elemen. I am working on an ID for you. I figured origin was unknown. An underside picture will help me rule out domestic dog. The lack of sagittal crest is totally throwing me off. I believe this is a juvenile animals due to the lack of fusion of the cranium plates and the teeth look like baby teeth... I don't think it's a dog simply because it has a sloping forhead...but want to be sure.

Could you post a picture of the underside of the skull so I can see the dentition better? This is certainly atypical for a lot of common Illinois animals. I'll have an ID for you by the end of the night with the extra pic! I think it's a juvenile too!