Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus
Their hind feet can rotate 180 degrees, allowing them to descend vertical cliffs and trees headfirst with incredible speed.
- Scientific name
- Bassariscus astutus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Carnivora › Procyonidae › Bassariscus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- desert
- Habitat
- Arid canyons, rocky outcroppings, pine-oak woodlands, and desert scrub.
- Diet
- Omnivorous: mice, woodrats, insects, birds, reptiles, fruits, and acorns.
- Range
- United States, Mexico
- Size
- Total length 61-81 cm (including a 31-44 cm tail); weight 0.8-1.5 kg.
- Lifespan
- 6 to 9 years in the wild
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss, vehicle collisions, rodenticide poisoning, and predation by larger carnivores.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but defensive if cornered. Ringtails are shy, nocturnal, and will actively avoid humans. Maintain a safe distance of 15 feet and do not attempt to corner or handle them, as they may bite or release a foul musk. In case of a bite, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention due to rabies risk.
The ringtail ( Bassariscus astutus ) is a mammal of the raccoon family, native to arid regions of North America. It is also known as the ringtail cat , ring-tailed cat , miner's cat or bassarisk , and is also sometimes called a "civet cat" (after similar, though only distantly related, cat-like carnivores of Asia and Africa). The ringtail is sometimes called a cacomistle, though this term seems to be more often used to refer to Bassariscus sumichrasti .
Photo: Brooke Smith, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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