24 facts about tanukis you may not know

Fans of Super Mario Bros. may recognize the name ‘tanuki’ as a suit donned by the titular hero in the third instalment of the game franchise. Others may know these creatures to be nothing more than myth, as they have a significant presence in Japanese folklore. Despite how you heard about them, we assure you that tanuki are very real, and very cute, though they go by a different name: Raccoon dogs. Flip through the gallery above for a some incredible photos of, and facts about, these remarkable creatures.