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Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Photo by Salocin
Published on Project Noah
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39.9399, -83.2596

Field Notes

Description:

This skull is from a Raccoon, identified based on its dental formula (thanks @ClementDufour), which is (top jaw /bottom jaw) 2/2 molars, 4/4 premolars, 1/1 canines, 3/3 incisors.

Habitat:

Woods

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (12)
EmilyMarino
Great find! Please consider adding this spotting to the Identifying Animals Through Osteology Mission: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8475425
MitchRay
The sagittal crest is almost non-existent in raccoons
ClementDufour
well its past its milk teeth so we know its mature, many weasels grow a kind of crest on their heads as they get mature. mink, marten and fishers do this but i dont know if this applies to raccoons.
MitchRay
Not to my knowledge. You can on Cervids but even that can be tricky and open to interpretation
galewhale..Gale
can you tell if it is young/old from the size of skull and wear on teeth.?
Salocin
Yep, it is 2/2 molars, 4/4 premolars, 1/1 canines, 3/3 incisors. It is indeed a raccoon.
ClementDufour
check the dental formula: (top)/(bottom jaw) Skull with dentition: 2/2 molars, 4/4 premolars, 1/1 canines, 3/3 incisors
Salocin
The skull is just over 4" in length. A quick search for "raccoon skull" brings up many very similar skulls. Your first glance looks like it is probably right. Thanks for helping!
MitchRay
How long was it? At first glance I'm thinking raccoon.

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PublishedApril 27, 2011

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