Taxonomic Analysis of the Coastal Marsh Raccoon 
( Procyon lotor maritimus) in Maryland 
Denise H. Clearwater, George A. Feldhamer, 1 
Raymond P. Morgan II, and Joseph A. Chapman 2 
Appalachian Environmental Laboratory, 
Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, 
University of Maryland, Frostburg State College Campus, 
Frost burg, Maryland 21532 
ABSTRACT . — Skulls of raccoons were collected from three 
physiographic regions in Maryland. Based on multivariate analyses of 
skull measurements, it is suggested that the coastal marsh raccoon, 
Procyon lotor maritimus , be considered a synonym of P. 1. lotor. 
Most taxonomic studies describing subspecies of raccoons ( Procyon 
lotor) were based on qualitative cranial characteristics and pelage (see 
Goldman 1950). Pelage is highly variable within geographic regions and 
is a poor diagnostic character. The coastal marsh raccoon (P. 1. 
maritimus) was described by Dozier (1948) on the basis of 34 specimens 
(skins, skulls, or both) from marsh habitats on the Delmarva Peninsula. 
According to Dozier (1948), skulls of P. 1. maritimus were smaller and 
narrower than those of P. 1. lotor and had shorter postorbital processes. 
He also stated that the two subspecies occupied different habitats on the 
Delmarva Peninsula, with P. 1. maritimus in marshes and P. 1. lotor in 
upland wooded areas. Neither the cranial nor the habitat differences 
were quantified, however, and not all researchers accepted the coastal 
marsh raccoon as a new subspecies. Paradiso (1969:145) felt that the 
differences in P. 1. maritimus were “slightly marked” and within the 
limits of individual variation of P. 1. lotor. Without commenting on the 
validity of current taxonomy, Hall and Kelson (1959) and Hall (1982) 
treated P. 1. maritimus as a valid subspecies. Our objective was to 
determine if P. 1. maritimus was a valid taxon based on statistical 
analyses of cranial characteristics. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Skulls of male raccoons (n = 63) from the museum collections of 
the Appalachian Environmental Laboratory and the National Museum 
'Present address: Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, 
Carbondale, Illinois 62901. 
2 Present address: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, College of Natural 
Resources, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322. 
Brimleyana No. 15:31-36, January 1989 
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