Chapalmalania sp

PALEOFAUNA OF VENEZUELA. Falcón's "Giant Raccoon".

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Clarifications: The official information about this species dates from the last paper on Urumaco, part of the San Gregorio Formation, from last year 2021.
Current research may be subject to change. But they are solidly founded by national and international paleontologists.

The Chapalmalania sp. It was a species of procyonid, related to the current Coatís (Nasua) and Raccoons (Procyon), which due to its dimensions and body mass could appear to be a species of medium bear (despite not being directly related to the latter).

The presence of their remains in the north of South America reinforces the thesis of the Great American Biotic Exchange, between the north and south of the continent, if not this fact could also have occurred at least in various stages.

As for its behavior, although it is not clear if it was a hunter, it is likely that it was similar to that of modern Raccoons, with the difference that perhaps it took advantage of its size to steal the prey of other animals.

His remains were described by Venezuelan paleontologist Damián Ruiz Ramoni, @damianramoni, in collaboration with a joint team of
Paleontologists from Colombia, Zurich and Venezuela, highlighting: Marcelo Sanchez. Villagra and Rodolfo Sánchez.