Identify this mammal - Worldwide Wildlife and Environment Forums

ChicagoGuy · #1 (**permalink**) 16-07-2007, 12:27 PM

Can anyone help me identify this?

About the size of a common housecat, hairless or short haired tail.
The photos were taken with an infrared camera, so color is unknown.
Nocturnal.
Legs are too long to be weasel/otter/possum and body style is wrong for otter/rat.

recorded in northeast illinois, grass/wetland, in dry streambed at 11PM

Thanks
See followup msg below

paul m · #2 (**permalink**) 16-07-2007, 04:34 PM

Hello, Guy - I'm afraid nothing's coming through to me on that url ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoGuy

Can anyone help me identify this?

About the size of a common housecat, hairless or short haired tail.
The photos were taken with an infrared camera, so color is unknown.
Nocturnal.
Legs are too long to be weasel/otter/possum and body style is wrong for otter/rat.

recorded in northeast illinois, grass/wetland, in dry streambed at 11PM

video at http://tworld.bizland.com/pics/mammal.mpg (2MB)

Thanks

ChicagoGuy · #3 (**permalink**) 17-07-2007, 12:48 AM

Sorry about the bad link. In too much of a hurry before leaving this morning.
Here's a JPG and MOV file.

http://www.carlifehome.com/pics/mammal.jpg (62KB)

http://www.carlifehome.com/pics/mammal.mov Quicktime (2MB)

Wondering if this might be a young possum. the gait and legs seem wrong and the snout isn't very narrow. The young possum pics I've found online all have the long narrow snout even at a young age.

It's about the size of a housecat, which would be about full grown for a possum. It isn't as low to the ground as I'd expect from an otter or mink. Too big for a rat.

Relocating the camera for a better shot tonight.

paul m · #4 (**permalink**) 17-07-2007, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoGuy

Wondering if this might be a young possum. the gait and legs seem wrong and the snout isn't very narrow. The young possum pics I've found online all have the long narrow snout even at a young age.

It's about the size of a housecat, which would be about full grown for a possum. It isn't as low to the ground as I'd expect from an otter or mink. Too big for a rat.

Relocating the camera for a better shot tonight.

I would think (and I've never seen one in the wild

) that it can be nothing else - the size, tail and face shape look right. It's quite long in the leg from what I'd expect but .... perhaps it's on tip-toe ....

Spaz · #5 (**permalink**) 02-08-2007, 12:04 AM

The shape of the head kind of looked like a mouse, or rat. There is a chance that it's an opossum, but I think that you'll have to get some better pictures with a clearer shot to identify it.

paul m · #6 (**permalink**) 17-08-2007, 12:07 AM

The first mail said it was 'about the size of' a domestic cat .... thta would make a sizeable rat! Interesting though that you can see similarities between rodents and possums ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaz

The shape of the head kind of looked like a mouse, or rat. There is a chance that it's an opossum, but I think that you'll have to get some better pictures with a clearer shot to identify it.

paul m · #7 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 04:17 PM

Anyone tell me what this might be, please?

Since it was in a zoo, I could have looked at the label but it was very early in the morning and my brain hadn't warmed up ....

goosey · #8 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul m

Anyone tell me what this might be, please?

Since it was in a zoo, I could have looked at the label but it was very early in the morning and my brain hadn't warmed up ....

I don't think its a possum - what about an ant eater of some sort, with that long snout?

black · #9 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 09:29 AM

Hi Paul, your photo is of a Coati a.k.a. Coatimundi Nasua nasua. They occur in Central and parts of South America. I've seen them in Brazil and Ecuador, cheeky things, quite comical. I might have posted a pic in the mammal gallery myself of a darker coated individual. There's quite a group of Coatis at Chester Zoo, I remember the very first time I visited at feeding time when they were given dead chicks and eggs I think. They are quite acrobatic and have some rope bridges that they expertly tight-rope along.

paul m · #10 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 10:54 AM

Of course:

Thanks, I was really dozey on that morning: insufficient caffeine .....

Quote:

Originally Posted by black

Hi Paul, your photo is of a Coati a.k.a. Coatimundi Nasua nasua. They occur in Central and parts of South America. I've seen them in Brazil and Ecuador, cheeky things, quite comical. I might have posted a pic in the mammal gallery myself of a darker coated individual. There's quite a group of Coatis at Chester Zoo, I remember the very first time I visited at feeding time when they were given dead chicks and eggs I think. They are quite acrobatic and have some rope bridges that they expertly tight-rope along.