On Thursday, scientists unveiled new knowledge on the potential origins of the Covid-19 pandemic — and put an odd, squat creature squarely within the highlight.

Meet the raccoon canine; it earns its identify from its black facial markings, which give the animal a masked look and a more-than-passing resemblance to these notorious raiders of city trash cans.

The animals had been no less than sometimes bought on the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, the place many virologists suspect that the Covid-19 pandemic could have began.

Scientists had beforehand introduced that swabs from the market had examined optimistic for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The brand new knowledge revealed that a few of these identical swabs additionally contained substantial genetic materials from raccoon canine.

The findings didn’t show that raccoon canine had been contaminated with the virus or that that they had handed it on to people. However they’re according to the chance that wild animals on the market could have set off the Covid-19 pandemic.

Right here’s what to know concerning the animal within the information.

What are raccoon canine?

Regardless of their identify, raccoon canine usually are not shut kinfolk of raccoons. They’re members of the canid household, a bunch that additionally consists of home canine, and are most carefully associated to foxes. In contrast to different canids, they could hibernate in winter.

Raccoon canine are omnivores, eating on meals sources like rodents and berries. Though they seem svelte in the summertime, they pack on the kilos for winter, when their fur additionally turns into thicker. They’re monogamous, typically dwelling in pairs.

The place do they stay?

Raccoon canine are native to East Asia, together with components of China, Korea and Japan, the place they’re generally known as tanuki.

They’ve additionally grow to be widespread in components of Europe, the place they’re thought-about an invasive species. They’re typically hunted as pests.

Why are they farmed and bought?

Raccoon canine have lengthy been farmed for his or her fur. China is a number one producer of raccoon canine pelts; in 2014, the nation produced greater than 14 million pelts, 100 instances as many as Europe, in accordance with one report.

They’re additionally bought for his or her meat in stay animal markets. They had been bought on the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market no less than as late as November 2019, researchers have reported.

Are they the supply of the virus that causes Covid-19?

Not essentially. Laboratory experiments have proven that raccoon canine are vulnerable to, and able to transmitting, the novel coronavirus. However that doesn’t imply that they’re the pure reservoir for the virus. Even when raccoon canine on the market had been contaminated, they could have been an intermediate host, selecting up the virus from bats or one other species.

Raccoon canine and bats had been each widespread on and round among the farms that equipped the market, scientists have famous.

An identical situation could have unfolded twenty years in the past, after the emergence of SARS, which can be attributable to a coronavirus. In 2003, scientists discovered proof of contaminated palm civets and raccoon canine at a stay animal market in Shenzen, China. However subsequent analysis in the end pointed to bats because the pure reservoir for the virus that causes SARS; raccoon canine gave the impression to be intermediate hosts.

Can I pet a raccoon canine if I see one?

It’s most likely not a good suggestion, as tempting because it could be. Covid-19 apart, the animals are recognized to be vectors for different illnesses, together with rabies. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends towards maintaining raccoon canine as pets.