Nyctereutes procyonoides

The Japanese raccoon, raccoon dog or tanuki (Nyctereutes procyonoides) It is a species of carnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, similar in appearance to a raccoon and native to eastern China, Korea and Japan.

Distribution

They are native to China and Japan. However, since the 1940s, and because of their skin, they have been introduced to the Caucasus, Ukraine and Belarus, so that today they are part of the permanent fauna. from the western regions of the former U.S.S.R., from which it has spread to the Scandinavian Peninsula, Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland and France.

Invasive species

Due to its colonizing potential and constituting a serious threat to native species, habitats or ecosystems, this species has been included in the Spanish Catalog of Invasive Exotic Species, regulated by Royal Decree 630/2013, of 2 August, its introduction into the natural environment, possession, transportation, trafficking and trade being prohibited in Spain.

Natural history

It is the most archaic species of canid that currently exists, having survived thanks to its strength, withdrawn character and the remoteness of its area of origin.^{[citation required]}

In Eurasia, its expansion continues through humid areas with a temperate to cold climate, where specimens were naturalized when they escaped from fur farms, especially from Poland, Czechoslovakia and Russia. With habits similar to those of the badger and the fox, its presence represents a danger to the native fauna of the places where it has been naturalized, as it destroys small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, mollusks and invertebrates.^{[< i>citation required]} It also feeds on carrion, garbage and plant substances such as mushrooms, fruits or roots.^{[citation required]}

In Asia it lives in swampy and sparsely wooded areas and river areas covered with deciduous trees.^{[citation required]}

Their way of life in the regions where they have recently become naturalized is not yet well known. They are usually gregarious animals that live in small groups, but they can also be solitary individuals. active at twilight and at night. It digs its own burrow or occupies that of other mammals. In winter its activity decreases significantly, being the only canid that hibernates but without a drop in body temperature. This animal is often confused with the raccoon due to its similar appearance as a result of convergent evolution.

Subspecies

Five subspecies of Nyctereutes procyonoides are recognized:

• Nyctereutes procyonoids procyonoids
• Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis
• Nyctereutes procyonoides orestes
• Nyctereutes procyonoides ussuriensis
• Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus

Cultural characteristics

Japanese name

While tanuchis are prominent in Japanese folklore and sayings, they were not always differentiated from other animals. In local dialects, “tanuki” and “mujina” can refer to both raccoon dogs and badgers. An animal known as “tanuki” in one region may be called “mujina” in another. In the standard modern Tokyo dialect, “tanuki” refers to raccoon dogs and “anaguma” to badgers. Regional dishes known as tanukijiru (狸汁, 'tanukijiru'^?) (“tanuki soup”) may contain either raccoon dogs or good badgers, although the flavor of the latter is generally the favorite.

Originally, the Chinese character for tanuqui was used to refer to other medium-sized mammals, particularly wild cats. Since these live only in certain regions of Japan (e.g., Iriomote, Okinawa), it is believed that the letters began to be used to refer to tanuchis instead around the Japanese feudal era. This change in meaning, along with the rarity of the raccoon dog outside of Japan, may have contributed to confusion about the proper translation of the word tanuki into other languages.^{[citation needed]< /sup>}

In colloquial Japanese, tanuki gao (狸顔, 'tanuki gao& #39;^?) (tanuki face) can refer to a face that resembles that of the animal, or a facial expression of feigned ignorance.

Folklore

The legendary yōkai tanuki is reputed to be mischievous and mischievous, a master at disguising and shapeshifting, but somewhat naive and absent-minded. Statues of tanuki can be found outside many temples and Japanese restaurants, particularly noodle restaurants. These statues often wear large turtle shells for hats and carry bottles of sake in one hand and a bill of exchange or an empty purse in the other. Tanuki statues always have big stomachs. It is also common for them to have comically large testicles, usually hanging to the ground, although this feature is occasionally omitted in contemporary sculpture.

The comic image of the tanuki is believed to have developed during the Kamakura era. The real wild tanuki has disproportionately large testicles, a trait that has inspired humorous exaggeration in artistic works. Tanuki can be shown with their testicles slung over their backs like backpacks, or using them as drums. Since they are also typically depicted with large stomachs, it is common to show them playing their bellies like drums, rather than their testicles, especially in contemporary art.

During the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, some stories began to include more sinister tanukis. In the story otogizōshi by Kachi-kachi Yama a tanuki appears who beats an old woman to death and serves her to her ignorant husband as “old woman soup,” an ironic twist derived from of the typical recipe known as “tanuki soup”. Other stories describe tanukis as harmless and productive members of society. Many temples in Japan hold stories of ancient priests who were tanukis in disguise. Shape-shifting tanuki are sometimes considered to be a type of tsukumogami (付喪神, 'tsukumogami'^?), a Transforming the souls of household goods that have been used for 100 years or more.

A folk tale known as Bunbuku Chagama tells of a tanuki who tricked a monk by transforming into a teapot. Another is about a tanuki who tricked a hunter by disguising his arms as branches, until he opened both arms at once and fell from the tree. It is said of the tanuki that they scam merchants with leaves that they magically disguise as banknotes. Some stories describe tanuquis using leaves as part of the magic by which they change shape.

The tanuki has eight special traits that bring good fortune, possibly created to coincide with the Hachi symbol (八, 'Hachi'^?) (meaning eight), which is frequently found on the sake bottles held by statues. The eight traits are: a hat to quickly protect them from trouble or bad weather; big eyes to perceive the environment and help them make decisions; a bottle of sake representing virtue; a long tail that provides security and strength until success is achieved; huge testicles that symbolize economic luck; a bill of exchange representing trust; a large stomach that symbolizes bold and thoughtful decisions; and a friendly smile.

A typical song in Japanese schools (which was adapted for the Studio Ghibli film PomPoko) makes explicit reference to the anatomy of the tanuki:

Tan Tan Tanuki no kintama wa,

Kaze mo nai no,

Bura bura

Roughly translated, the song says: “Tan-tan-tanuki's testicles, there isn't even any wind but they sway-sway.” It continues for several verses, with many variations depending on the region. It is sung to the tune of a Baptist hymn called “Shall we gather at the River?”

In metallurgy, tanuki skins were often used to refine gold. As a result, tanuki became associated with precious metals and metallurgy. Small tanuki statues were sold as entrance decorations and as good luck charms to attract prosperity. For this same reason it is said that tanuquis have large kintama (金玉 , ' kintama'^?), literally “golden balls”, which In casual Japanese it means testicles.