raccoon dog
raccoon dog
1865–70
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
:04
:03
:02
:01
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| raccoon dog | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a canine mammal, Nyctereutes procyonoides, inhabiting woods and forests near rivers in E Asia. It has long yellowish-brown black-tipped hair and facial markings resembling those of a raccoon |
| 2. | Also called: coonhound an American breed of dog having a short smooth black coat with tan markings, bred to hunt raccoons |
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
raccoon dog
(Nyctereutes procyonoides), member of the dog family (Canidae) native to eastern Asia and introduced into Europe. Some authorities place it in the raccoon family, Procyonidae. It resembles the raccoon in having dark facial markings that contrast with its yellowish brown coat, but it does not have a ringed tail. It has short, brown or blackish limbs, a heavy body, and rounded ears. Head and body length is 50-65 cm (20-26 inches); tail length, 13-18 cm; and weight, about 7.5 kg (16.5 pounds). Most active at night, the raccoon dog is omnivorous and feeds on small animals, fish, vegetation, and carrion. Litters contain 5-12 young, born after a gestation period reported at 60-79 days. The long fur of the raccoon dog is sold commercially as "Ussuri raccoon," or "tanuki."
Learn more about raccoon dog with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Cite This Source