---
title: "Mapache japonés"
description: "Nyctereutes viverrinus — Mamíferos. The Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus), also called the tanuki, is a species of canid that is endemic to Japan."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/es/animal/japanese-raccoon-dog
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Mapache japonés

> Nyctereutes viverrinus — Mamíferos. The Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus), also called the tanuki, is a species of canid that is endemic to Japan.

- Scientific name: *Nyctereutes viverrinus*
- Category: `mammals` (Mamíferos)
- Habitats: `forest` (Bosque)
- iNaturalist observations: 1820
- Wikidata: [Q122835073](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q122835073)
- iNaturalist taxon: [855310](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/855310)

## Names

- en: Japanese Raccoon Dog
- de: Japan-Marderhund
- es: Mapache japonés
- fr: Tanuki

## Countries with the most observations

JP (1592)

## Summary

The Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus), also called the tanuki, is a species of canid that is endemic to Japan. It is one of two species in the genus Nyctereutes, alongside the common raccoon dog (N. procyonoides), of which it is considered to be a subspecies by some taxonomic authorities. 
In Japan, raccoon dogs have had a prominent role in folklore since ancient times. They are reputedly mischievous and jolly, masters of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absent-minded. The animals are common in Japanese art, particularly as statues.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_raccoon_dog

## Photo

![Mapache japonés](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/japanese-raccoon-dog/medium.jpg)

Photo: Kōsuke Onoda · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/170582555

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/japanese-raccoon-dog?lang=es` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).