The crab-eating raccoon is characterized by its whitish face with a black mask over the eyes, a black tail with yellowish-white rings, and its bare-looking paws with claw-tipped fingers. It measures between 23 and 30 cm in height, with a total body length, including the head, of 42 to 70 cm, and a tail length of 20 to 41 cm. Its weight can reach up to 15 kg.
It is a nocturnal animal with solitary and terrestrial habits, and it is a good climber. Its diet consists primarily of crabs, shrimp, fish, small birds, snails, insects, turtles, and frogs. It also consumes fruits, seeds, and certain vegetables. The crab-eating raccoon takes shelter in tree hollows, rock crevices, burrows made by other animals, and abandoned human structures, always near water sources.