Classification
Thought to be a distinct species in the past, two studies in 1999 and 2003 yielded the result that the Guadeloupe raccoon is a subspecies of the common raccoon (Procyon lotor). The study of its morphological and genetic traits done in 2003 by Kristofer M. Helgen and Don E. Wilson indicated that the Guadeloupe raccoon was introduced by humans just a few centuries ago. This assumption is supported by the fact that the Guadeloupe raccoon seems to be closely related to the Bahaman raccoon (Procyon lotor maynardi), which is endemic on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, an archipelago nearly 2,000 km (1,243 mi) away. Therefore, the Guadeloupe raccoon is listed to be consubspecific with the Bahaman raccoon in the third edition of Mammal Species of the World and its former scientific name Procyon (lotor) minor is listed as a synonym for Procyon lotor maynardi.
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