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Ringtail

The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is a small, nocturnal mammal in the raccoon family (Procyonidae), native to arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America, characterized by its slender, fox-like body and exceptionally long, bushy tail with alternating black and white rings.^[1]^[2] Adults typically measure 24 to 32 inches (61–81 cm) in total length, with the tail comprising nearly half, and weigh 1.5 to 3 pounds (0.7–1.4 kg), making it agile and well-suited for climbing.^[3]^[4] Known also as the ringtail cat, miner's cat, or civet cat, it has been the state mammal of Arizona since 1986; it is a secretive omnivore that plays a key ecological role as a mesopredator in its habitats.^[5] Ringtails prefer rocky deserts, woodlands, canyons, and riparian zones at elevations below the lower montane zone, often denning in rock crevices, hollow trees, abandoned woodrat nests, or even human structures near water sources.^[6]^[7] Their diet varies seasonally and geographically but primarily consists of small mammals (about 62% by volume), insects such as grasshoppers and crickets, birds and their eggs, reptiles like lizards and snakes, amphibians, carrion, and native fruits (around 28% by volume).^[8]^[1]^[9] As strictly nocturnal foragers active mainly from midnight to dawn, they are solitary and territorial, using vocalizations, scent marking, and agile movements—including rotating their hind feet 180 degrees for descending headfirst—to navigate complex terrains.^[8]^[10] Historically prized by miners for controlling rodents in camps—earning its "miner's cat" moniker—ringtails are now recognized as an important but poorly studied component of southwestern ecosystems, contributing to rodent population control and seed dispersal.^[5]^[3] Although their populations appear stable across much of their range and they are classified as a species of least concern by conservation assessments, habitat fragmentation from urbanization and agriculture poses localized threats, prompting calls for canyon habitat preservation in areas like the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.^[11]^[10]

Taxonomy and Phylogeny

Classification

The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) belongs to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Procyonidae, genus Bassariscus, and species astutus (with several subspecies, including the nominal B. a. astutus and B. a. yumanensis).^[12]^[13] This placement reflects its membership in the raccoon family, Procyonidae, which encompasses small to medium-sized carnivorans adapted to diverse New World habitats.^[13] Originally described as Bassariscus astutus (basionym Bassaris astuta) by Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein in 1830 based on specimens from Mexico, the species has undergone taxonomic refinements over time.^[14] In the 19th century, early classifications debated its affinity, with some authorities provisionally assigning it to the Old World family Viverridae (civets and genets) due to convergent traits like elongated bodies and ringed tails, as noted in contemporary natural history texts.^[15] By the early 20th century, detailed morphological analyses, including dental and cranial features, resolved these uncertainties, confirming its position within Procyonidae and distinguishing it from viverrids through shared synapomorphies like reduced carnassials and plantigrade locomotion.^[16] Within Procyonidae, the genus Bassariscus is phylogenetically basal and distinct from genera such as Procyon (raccoons, characterized by masked faces and dexterous paws) and Nasua (coatis, with elongated snouts and social foraging habits), highlighting its unique arboreal and solitary adaptations relative to these more derived procyonids.^[17] Molecular phylogenies further support this separation; for example, a 2007 analysis places Bassariscus as sister to Procyon, with that clade sister to (Nasua, Bassaricyon), and estimates the Bassariscus-Procyon divergence at around 10-12 million years ago (though topologies vary across studies, with some placing Bassariscus as basal to all other procyonids).^[18] The genus also encompasses the closely related cacomistle (Bassariscus sumichrasti), sharing a Central American distribution and similar ecological niche.^[19]

Evolutionary History

The genus Bassariscus first appears in the North American fossil record during the Miocene epoch, approximately 23 to 5 million years ago, with multiple species documented from sites in Nebraska, Nevada, and California.^[16] These early fossils indicate a mesocarnivorous lifestyle similar to modern ringtails, with dental and cranial features suggesting arboreal adaptations already present.^[20] The fossil evidence extends into the Pliocene, but the Miocene representatives highlight the genus's long-standing presence in western North American ecosystems before significant climatic shifts.^[21] Within the family Procyonidae, Bassariscus occupies a basal phylogenetic position, representing one of the most primitive extant genera and diverging from raccoon-like ancestors around 10-12 million years ago during the late Miocene (though estimates and exact relationships vary).^[22] This divergence is supported by molecular analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial genes, which place Bassariscus in a clade with Procyon, separate from other procyonid lineages like Nasua and Bassaricyon. The Procyonidae as a whole originated in the early Miocene, with Bassariscus fossils appearing shortly thereafter in the middle Miocene, underscoring its early radiation within the family.^[23] Following the Pleistocene epoch, the ringtail lineage exhibited adaptive radiation into arid and semi-arid environments, facilitated by post-glacial climatic drying that expanded desert habitats across southwestern North America.^[24] This period of diversification allowed Bassariscus astutus to exploit niche opportunities in rocky, scrubland terrains, with metabolic adjustments enabling persistence in warmer, drier conditions compared to more tropical procyonids.^[25] Genetic studies, including sequence data from multiple loci, confirm the monophyly of the Bassariscus genus, supporting its distinct evolutionary trajectory within Procyonidae despite some paraphyly signals in mitochondrial genomes.^[22] These analyses, drawing on over 6,500 base pairs, align fossil-calibrated phylogenies and highlight minimal morphological change from Neogene ancestors, reinforcing the "living fossil" status of modern ringtails.^[23]

Physical Characteristics

Morphology

The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) possesses a slender, agile build adapted for arboreal and rocky environments, with a head and body length ranging from 30 to 42 cm.^[25] Its tail is elongated, measuring 31 to 44 cm, often exceeding the body length and featuring 14 to 16 alternating black and white rings that provide a distinctive appearance.^[26] Adults typically weigh between 0.82 and 1.3 kg.^[26] The dorsal fur is grayish-brown with yellowish tinges and black-tipped guard hairs, while the underparts are whitish to buff, creating a contrasted pelage that aids in camouflage among rocky terrains.^[16] The face features a mask-like pattern with large, dark eyes encircled by white fur rings, distinct from the solid black mask of raccoons, and prominent rounded ears that enhance its alert posture.^[27] The overall coloration is accented by a white patch on the muzzle and dark patches behind the eyes. Skeletally, the ringtail exhibits a lightweight, flexible framework with short, robust limbs suited for climbing; the hind limbs, in particular, have a rotatable ankle joint allowing over 180 degrees of rotation for enhanced maneuverability.^[28] This structure supports an agile body form, with shoulder height around 16 cm, emphasizing its cat-like proportions rather than the bulkier build of related procyonids.^[29]

Adaptations

Ringtails exhibit remarkable visual adaptations suited to their crepuscular and nocturnal habits. Their large eyes enable superior low-light vision, facilitating precise detection of prey and obstacles during nighttime foraging and movement through dim environments. This enhanced night vision is essential for avoiding predators and efficiently exploiting resources in the dark, where visual acuity provides a competitive edge.^[25] Tactile sensitivities further equip ringtails for navigating complex, rocky terrains. Long, sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) around the face and elongated paws with padded, naked soles allow for detailed sensory feedback, detecting subtle surface irregularities and air currents to guide precise positioning on precarious ledges and crevices. These features enhance stability and reduce fall risks during exploration of vertical rock faces, promoting effective locomotion in fragmented landscapes. Locomotory adaptations include highly flexible ankles in the hind feet, capable of 180-degree rotation relative to the leg axis. This anatomical trait permits ringtails to descend headfirst down steep cliffs or tree trunks while maintaining full paw contact with the substrate, enabling rapid and secure traversal of vertical surfaces that would challenge less agile climbers. Such flexibility, combined with strong claws, supports agile maneuvers like ricocheting between walls, optimizing energy use in arboreal and rupestrian pursuits. Scent glands represent a key chemical communication adaptation for territorial maintenance. Paired anal glands produce a musky, foul-smelling secretion that ringtails deposit by rubbing or urination on prominent objects and ground surfaces, delineating home range boundaries and signaling presence to conspecifics. Marking intensifies during breeding seasons to deter rivals and attract mates, reinforcing social spacing and reducing intraspecific conflict in overlapping ranges.^[16]

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is native to the southwestern United States, where its range spans from southwestern Oregon southward through California, and includes southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, with marginal occurrence in eastern Kansas. ^[25] This distribution continues seamlessly into Mexico, covering much of the country's territory from Baja California and Sonora southward to Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. ^[9] Elevations within this distribution vary from sea level to approximately 2,800 meters, particularly in mountainous regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. ^[30] Contemporary populations exhibit fragmentation, primarily resulting from habitat loss across parts of the range, as evidenced by genetic structuring in isolated sky island habitats. ^[31] No introduced populations exist outside the native range. ^[25]

Habitat Preferences

Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) exhibit a strong preference for rugged, rocky terrains, including canyons, talus slopes, and outcroppings within desert woodlands, semi-arid scrublands, and oak-pinyon-juniper associations. These microhabitats provide ample climbing opportunities and protective cover, essential for their arboreal and scansorial lifestyle. Such environments are typically found at elevations from sea level up to 2,900 meters, though they are most abundant below 1,400 meters in areas with mixed vegetation that supports their prey base.^[32]^[25] For shelter, ringtails frequently select dens in secure, elevated sites such as rock crevices, hollows within standing trees or snags, and occasionally abandoned human structures like mine shafts or buildings. These den sites offer thermal regulation and protection from predators, with females particularly favoring boulder piles or tree cavities during reproduction. In regions with limited natural cavities, they adapt by using artificial refugia, demonstrating their opportunistic use of available microhabitats.^[32]^[33] Adapted to arid conditions prevalent across much of their range, ringtails derive most of their hydration from metabolic water produced through the oxidation of food, supplemented by moisture in prey and vegetation, allowing survival without regular access to free-standing water. This physiological efficiency, including the ability to produce highly concentrated urine under water stress, enables persistence in dry deserts and chaparral where ambient humidity is low. Their diet of insects, small vertebrates, and fruits provides sufficient preformed and metabolic water to meet needs in these environments.^[33]^[34] Ringtails display seasonal shifts in habitat use, moving toward riparian zones during fall and winter when food resources in upland areas diminish, capitalizing on heightened availability of arthropods, small mammals, and fruits near watercourses. These movements track prey abundance rather than water per se, as their metabolic adaptations minimize direct dependence on surface moisture. In such zones, they exploit the denser vegetation and elevated productivity to sustain energy demands amid cooler, drier seasons.^[35]^[25]

Behavior

Activity Patterns

Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) are primarily nocturnal, with activity commencing shortly after sunset and ceasing before sunrise, exhibiting no significant movement during daylight hours.^[33]^[36] This pattern allows them to avoid diurnal predators and exploit nocturnal prey availability, though occasional activity near dusk has been observed.^[25]^[9] Foraging occurs solitarily during these nighttime periods, typically spanning several hours as individuals traverse home ranges in search of food, with frequent shifts between dens averaging every 1.3 days.^[25]^[33] Unlike some temperate mammals, ringtails do not hibernate but maintain year-round activity, albeit with reduced movement and increased denning in winter to conserve energy amid lower temperatures.^[37]^[38] This seasonal adjustment involves greater reliance on sheltered sites such as shrubs and ground holes rather than exposed rocks.^[33] Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) are predominantly solitary mammals, with adults typically interacting only during the brief mating period and otherwise maintaining independent lifestyles.^[36] This solitary nature minimizes direct social contacts, though mothers temporarily form family units with their dependent young before dispersal.^[25] Individuals establish and defend territories that vary in size from approximately 0.5 to 2 km², depending on habitat quality and resource availability, with males often occupying larger areas than females.^[36] These territories are marked primarily through urine and fecal deposits at prominent locations, such as latrines, which serve to communicate presence and boundaries to conspecifics.^[39] Scent-based communication is further enhanced by secretions from well-developed anal glands, producing a musky odor that conveys individual identity and status, though this scent is usually subtle and not readily detectable by humans except at close range.^[36] Vocalizations play a key role in inter-individual signaling, including alarm responses and mating interactions. Adults produce a repertoire of sounds such as explosive barks, piercing screams, metallic chirps, and high-pitched calls to alert others to threats or during courtship.^[25]^[16] Juveniles emit distinct whimpers and chitters, particularly in distress, which may elicit protective responses from nearby adults.^[16] Intraspecific aggression is generally low, with territorial defense relying more on scent marking and vocal displays than physical confrontations; however, adults may show tolerance for dispersing juveniles whose ranges occasionally overlap with established territories.^[36]^[25]

Diet and Foraging

Food Sources

The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) maintains an omnivorous diet dominated by animal matter, with small mammals such as rodents (e.g., mice, woodrats, and cotton rats) and rabbits forming a significant portion, alongside birds and their eggs, reptiles, amphibians, insects (e.g., grasshoppers and crickets), and occasional bats. Plant material, including native fruits, berries, seeds, and vegetation, supplements the diet, while carrion is opportunistically scavenged. Recent studies highlight dietary flexibility, including consumption of unusual prey like porcupinefish in insular populations and a role in seed dispersal along urban-natural gradients.^[40]^[41] Scat analyses reveal variability in composition by location and season, but animal items generally predominate, appearing in 86.6% of samples in one Trans-Pecos, Texas study, with plant matter in 74.6%.^[11] In volumetric assessments from a central Texas study, small mammals comprised 5–36% of the diet (noting broader estimates up to 62% in other Texas assessments), birds 4–24%, insects 20–57%, and plants 16–25%, though frequencies of occurrence can reach 66% for mammals in spring breeding periods.^[42]^[8] Dietary composition shifts seasonally to reflect prey availability, with greater reliance on vegetation and insects (up to 57% insects and 25% plants) in summer and autumn, transitioning to higher proportions of protein-rich animal sources like mammals (36%) and birds (24–24%) in winter and spring.^[42] This opportunistic feeding supports nutritional needs suited to the ringtail's agile, arboreal lifestyle, providing high protein from animal prey for energy demands, while adaptations enable low free-water intake, with much hydration derived from moist foods like fruits (e.g., prickly pear) and prey tissues in arid habitats.^[5]^[33]

Foraging Strategies

Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) are primarily nocturnal and solitary foragers, actively hunting and gathering food during the night to minimize competition and predation risk. Their foraging behavior is adapted to diverse terrains, including rocky cliffs, trees, and riparian zones, where they cover extensive home ranges—often 1 to 7 km²—while searching for prey. This solitary approach allows them to exploit patchy resources efficiently without interference from conspecifics.^[43]^[7] A primary foraging tactic involves leveraging their remarkable climbing prowess to access elevated positions. Ringtails can ascend vertical surfaces, trees, and cliffs up to 10 meters or more using sharp, retractile claws and ankles that rotate 180 degrees for secure grip and descent. From these heights, they employ an ambush strategy, pouncing on unsuspecting prey such as small mammals, birds, or reptiles below with explosive speed and precision, aided by their long, bushy tail for balance during leaps. This arboreal hunting method is particularly effective in fragmented habitats like canyons and woodlands, where prey may seek cover in lower strata.^[25]^[44]^[27] Complementing their climbing skills, ringtails use their dexterous forepaws—characterized by sensitive tactile pads and flexible digits akin to those of procyonids—to manipulate and capture food items. These paws allow them to probe crevices in bark or soil, extracting hidden insects, larvae, or scorpions with targeted swipes and grips. For small vertebrates like lizards or rodents, the paws facilitate quick grasps and immobilization, often in conjunction with a swift bite to the neck. Such manual dexterity enhances their ability to forage in complex microhabitats, increasing encounter rates with cryptic prey.^[25]^[36] Throughout foraging, ringtails demonstrate vigilant risk assessment to evade larger predators such as coyotes, bobcats, and great horned owls. They preferentially hunt in elevated or structurally complex environments that provide escape routes, pausing frequently to scan for threats using acute hearing and vision, and fleeing to rock piles or tree hollows if detected. This cautious behavior reduces successful predation attempts, with their agility often allowing evasion even from aerial or ground-based pursuers.^[8]^[45]

Reproduction

Mating Systems

Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) exhibit a presumed polygynous mating system, in which males mate with multiple females while both sexes otherwise maintain solitary lifestyles outside of brief interactions during the breeding period.^[46] This system aligns with their territorial behavior, where individuals defend large home ranges that overlap minimally except during mating.^[36] The breeding season typically occurs in spring, from February to May across most of their range, though in northern populations such as those in Wyoming, it is delayed to March through May.^[7] Ringtails reach sexual maturity at approximately 2 years of age.^[25] Females are monestrous, entering estrus once per year for a short window of 24 to 36 hours, during which they become receptive to males.^[25] Courtship behaviors include increased scent marking by males to attract females and deter rivals, often through urine deposition and anal drag marks at territory boundaries.^[25] Additional displays may involve vocalizations and agile chases through branches, facilitating pair formation.^[47] Following successful mating, gestation lasts 51 to 54 days, resulting in litters of 2 to 4 young, with an average of 3 kits per litter.^[25] These offspring are born in secure dens, marking the transition to early developmental stages.^[48]

Development and Parental Care

Ringtail newborns, or kits, are altricial, born blind and hairless after a gestation period of 51 to 54 days, typically weighing 25 to 30 grams.^[25]^[49] Their eyes open between 31 and 34 days of age, by which time they are fully furred and beginning to explore their den.^[48]^[8] Kits remain dependent on their mother for nursing until weaning, which occurs at approximately 6 to 7 weeks of age, when they start consuming solid food such as regurgitated prey.^[49]^[25] By 2 months, the young accompany the female on foraging trips, learning hunting and navigation skills through observation and practice.^[48] Full independence is achieved around 4 to 5 months, when juveniles disperse to establish their own territories, coinciding with the completion of weaning in some cases.^[48] Parental care is provided almost exclusively by the female, who rears the litter—typically 2 to 4 kits—alone in a secure den, nursing them and later teaching foraging techniques during nightly excursions.^[25]^[8] Males exhibit no significant involvement in rearing, though they may remain in the vicinity during the breeding season, which peaks in spring with births occurring from April to June.^[48]^[25] In the wild, ringtails have an average lifespan of 6 to 7 years, limited by predation, disease, and habitat challenges, while individuals in captivity can live up to 15 years or more under protected conditions.^[25]^[49]^[8]

Ecology and Conservation

Ecological Interactions

The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) serves as a mid-level predator in its native ecosystems, primarily targeting small vertebrates such as rodents, which helps regulate their populations and maintain balance in arid and semi-arid habitats. By preying on species like mice, squirrels, and cottontails, ringtails contribute to controlling herbivore numbers that could otherwise overgraze vegetation or damage crops in desert environments.^[25]^[8]^[50] As prey, ringtails are vulnerable to larger carnivores and raptors, including coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), which exert top-down pressure on ringtail populations and influence their nocturnal behaviors and denning strategies. This predation dynamic positions ringtails as a key link in the food web, supporting the energy transfer to apex predators in rocky canyon and woodland habitats.^[27]^[25]^[8] In desert ecosystems, ringtails play a vital role in seed dispersal through endozoochory, consuming fruits from plants such as junipers and agaves and depositing viable seeds via scat, which aids in the regeneration of vegetation in fragmented or disturbed areas. Studies have documented ringtails dispersing seeds from over 20 plant species, with higher dispersal rates in natural settings compared to urban edges, enhancing plant colonization in arid landscapes.^[51]^[52]^[38] Ringtails also engage in interspecific competition with other omnivorous mesocarnivores, such as gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), for shared resources like den sites, prey, and fruit in overlapping territories, potentially leading to hierarchical avoidance patterns that structure community dynamics. This competition is particularly evident in riparian and canyon habitats where resource overlap is high, influencing ringtail distribution and foraging efficiency.^[53]^[54]^[11]

Conservation Status

The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, based on a 2015 assessment, indicating that it does not face a high risk of extinction in the wild.^[55] The species' population is considered stable overall, with no evidence of significant decline, though comprehensive global estimates are unavailable due to limited systematic monitoring.^[25] Local densities vary from a few to about 20 individuals per square kilometer in suitable habitats, supporting its widespread distribution across arid and semi-arid regions.^[56] Primary threats to the ringtail include habitat loss and fragmentation driven by urbanization, road construction, and agricultural expansion, which disrupt its preferred rocky canyon and woodland environments.^[57] Secondary poisoning from anticoagulant rodenticides is another concern, as ringtails consume rodents and other prey that have ingested these toxins, leading to lethal or sublethal effects.^[58] Vehicle collisions pose additional risks, particularly in areas near human development where ringtails forage at night.^[59] Conservation measures focus on habitat protection rather than intensive recovery programs, given the species' stable status. In California, the ringtail is fully protected by state law, prohibiting take except under specific permits, while in Oregon it is designated a Conservation Strategy Species to guide habitat management.^[60]^[61] Populations benefit from inclusion in national parks and reserves, such as those in the southwestern United States, where core habitats are safeguarded from development.^[62] Ongoing research, including camera trap studies, helps monitor local trends and inform land-use planning to mitigate fragmentation.^[3]

Human Relations

Tameability

Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) have a history of being tamed by miners in the 19th century American Southwest, where they were valued for controlling rodents in mining camps and cabins due to their curious nature and small size.^[43]^[63] These animals were often provided shelter in exchange for their pest control services, earning them the nickname "miner's cats," though they were not bred for domestication.^[27] While ringtails can be tamed and trained for basic tasks like hunting pests, they retain strong wild instincts and are not considered fully domesticated, making long-term captivity challenging.^[43] Their physical agility aids in such roles but also contributes to their elusive behavior in human settings.^[25] Ringtails are a protected species in some U.S. states, such as California where they have been fully protected since 1967, prohibiting hunting, trapping, or unregulated keeping without special scientific permits.^[64]^[65] As pets, ringtails pose significant challenges due to their strictly nocturnal habits, which conflict with human schedules, and their tendency to scent mark territories using urine and anal gland secretions, leading to strong odors and potential hygiene issues.^[25]^[66] Overall, experts recommend observing ringtails in the wild rather than attempting to keep them as companions.^[43]

Cultural and Economic Significance

The ringtail, Bassariscus astutus, earned the nickname "miner's cat" during the California Gold Rush era of the mid-19th century, when prospectors kept these agile animals around mining camps for companionship and to control rodent populations.^[67] Miners appreciated the ringtail's nocturnal habits and mousing skills, which made it a valued, if not fully domesticated, camp companion, though it is not a true feline but a relative of the raccoon.^[68] This historical association persists in folklore and regional naming conventions across the American Southwest. The ringtail holds cultural significance for many Indigenous peoples in North America, particularly in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest, where it features in traditional knowledge and stories as a resourceful survivor adapted to arid environments.^[69] Tribes such as the Hoopa Valley in Northern California recognize the animal's ecological role and incorporate it into their cultural narratives, emphasizing its adaptability in rugged terrains.^[3] In the early 20th century, ringtail fur entered minor trade markets in North America, with harvests recorded but comprising a small fraction compared to more commercially viable furbearers like beaver or fox.^[70] Today, such trade is severely limited due to protective conservation measures; for instance, the ringtail is classified as fully protected in California, prohibiting commercial exploitation to safeguard populations.^[62] However, limited trapping for fur continues legally in states such as Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah under regulated seasons and licenses.^[57] As Arizona's official state mammal since 1986, the ringtail contributes to ecotourism in protected areas like Saguaro National Park, where rare nocturnal sightings attract wildlife enthusiasts and hikers seeking glimpses of this elusive species amid the Sonoran Desert landscape.^[27]^[71] Despite this appeal, the ringtail has no substantial commercial economic value in modern times, with focus shifting to non-consumptive uses that support habitat preservation.^[62]

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We present the 1st detailed study of the muscular anatomy of the hind limb of B. astutus, including the 1st muscle maps of the pelvis and pes of any procyonid.Missing: agile | Show results with:agile
[29]
Ring-tail cat (Bassariscus astutus)
Height at the shoulder is about 160 mm, and weights range from 824 - 1,338 grams. Coloration is brownish above with buffy underparts.Missing: fur | Show results with:fur
[30]
Distribution & Habitat - North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus ...
Sep 19, 2025 · Broadly distributed in U.S. and Mexico (from Nowak 1999 unless otherwise noted). Western North America. Southwestern Oregon south through ...Missing: geographic | Show results with:geographic
[31]
Fine-scale genetic structure of the ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) in a ...
Apr 25, 2015 · Genetic phylogenies of the family Procyonidae have revealed the evolutionary relationships of the ringtail (Koepfli et al. 2007), but there have ...
[32]
Ringtail | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants
The ringtail measures 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 centimeters) long with a tail of about the same length, and weighs less than 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). The body ...
[33]
[PDF] Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) ecology and behavior in central New ...
Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) are the small - est members of the raccoon family, Procyoni - dae. Their distribution extends from Oregon,.Missing: taxonomy | Show results with:taxonomy
[34]
https://revista-agroproductividad.org/index.php/agroproductividad/article/download/2042/1645
[35]
[PDF] Detection and Relative Distribution of Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus ...
Jul 1, 2019 · The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is a small mammal in the raccoon family (known as. Procyonidae), commonly found throughout the.<|control11|><|separator|>
[36]
North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Fact Sheet: Behavior ...
Sep 19, 2025 · Olfaction/Scent Marking · Located at territory boundaries, most often · Possibly function as territorial markers, inter-group signal.
[37]
[PDF] Life history account for Ringtail
SPECIES LIFE HISTORY Activity Patterns: Nocturnal; active yearlong. Seasonal Movements/Migration: Non-migratory.
[38]
[PDF] Ringtail Distribution, Dermatoglyphics, and Diet in Zion National ...
Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) home range sizes (ha) from seven comparative studies. Diet. Ringtails are an important meso-carnivore in the southwest; they ...
[39]
Faecal marking behaviour in ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) during ...
Aug 6, 2025 · The aims of this study were to describe the use of latrines in ringtails and to test if single faeces and latrines have a marking function.
[40]
[DOC] Bassariscus astutus (Lichtenstein) - West Texas A&M University
RICHARDS, R. E. 1976. The distribution, water balance, and vocalization of the ringtail,. Bassariscus astutus. D. A. dissertation, University of Northern ...
[41]
[PDF] Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) - DigitalCommons@USU
Ringtails are small, nocturnal mammals, native to the American west and southwest, weighing 1.5-2.5 pounds, and are often confused with raccoons.Missing: bassaricidae | Show results with:bassaricidae
[42]
Ringtail - Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den
Ringtails are very agile and have sharp claws which enable them to climb trees and even scale walls. They hunt by night, pouncing on their prey from ambush. The ...
[43]
[PDF] MAMMALIAN SPECIES N... 327, pp. 1—8, 4 ﬁgs.
Bassariscus astutus. By Ivo Poglayen-Neuwall and Dale E. Toweill. Published 27 December 1988 by The American Society of Mammalogists.
[44]
Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Ecology And Behavior In Central New ...
Aug 6, 2025 · leptorhynchus portray a talented and agile climber; the great range of mobility of the hip articulation and the shape of the bony structures ...Missing: build | Show results with:build
[45]
Mammals Of the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument
Mating system harem polygyny or promiscuous with male territories overlapping female territories. (Smith 1997). ECOLOGY.—Inhabits montane, subalpine, and ...
[46]
North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Fact Sheet - LibGuides
Sep 19, 2025 · Forage with adults at 2 months; Weaning complete at 3-4 months (Nowak 1999; Poglayen-Neuwall 1990); Full size at 30 weeks. Adult. Male. Sexual ...Missing: bout | Show results with:bout
[47]
Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) longevity, ageing, and life history
Phylum: Chordata ; Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry) ; Order: Carnivora ; Family: Procyonidae ; Genus: Bassariscus
[48]
Characteristics of a ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) population in Trans ...
They provide food for larger predators, may impact arthropod and small mammal populations, and aid in seed dispersal. The canyons found in the Trans Pecos ...
[49]
Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) as seed dispersers in an urban ...
Twenty species of plants were dispersed by ringtails, more than reported in previous studies. More seeds were dispersed in natural (7.1 seeds per g) than ...Missing: prey competition
[50]
Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) as seed dispersers in an urban ...
Sep 23, 2024 · This article aims to evaluate the role of ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) as seed dispersers in an urban-natural gradient during low human ...Missing: competition | Show results with:competition
[51]
Dynamic occupancy modelling reveals a hierarchy of competition ...
Dec 28, 2017 · ... (Bassariscus astutus). Grey foxes (family: Canidae) are likely to compete with fishers due to their similar body sizes and dietary overlap ...
[52]
Dynamic occupancy modelling reveals a hierarchy of competition ...
... (Bassariscus astutus). Grey foxes (family: Canidae) are likely to compete with fishers due to their similar body sizes and dietary overlap, and ringtails ...
[53]
North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Fact Sheet - LibGuides
Sep 19, 2025 · Taxonomy, Physical Characteristics. Kingdom:Animalia. Phylum: Chordata. Class: Mammalia. Order: Carnivora. Family: Procyonidae.
[54]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29282715/
[55]
Ringtail - Oregon Wild
Scientific Name: Bassariscus astutus. Size: 12-16.5 inches in length with a body weight of 1.8-2.9 pounds. Habitat: Riparian Zones, Evergreen Forest, Semi-oak ...
[56]
[PDF] Endangered Species Act rodenticide violations
Dec 12, 2019 · ... predators that would then succumb to rodenticide poisoning ... kangaroo rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis), ring tailed cat (Bassariscus astutus) ...
[57]
Ring-tailed Cat Conservation - Los Padres ForestWatch
As a nocturnal carnivore, ring-tailed cats forage at night for a variety of prey, including small mammals, invertebrates, birds, and reptiles. Additionally, the ...Missing: bout | Show results with:bout
[58]
Helping Save the Ringtail - San Diego Natural History Museum
Mar 6, 2020 · Roadkill is one of the ways by which habitat fragmentation is translated into a species' decline. Scientists from The Nat have teamed up ...
[59]
Ringtail - Oregon Conservation Strategy
Ringtails occupy low-elevation forests with large-diameter snags and logs for dens. They are typically associated with late-successional forests.Missing: altitudinal | Show results with:altitudinal
[60]
Population & Conservation Status - North American Ringtail ...
Sep 19, 2025 · North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status · Summary · Taxonomy & History · Distribution & Habitat ...Missing: fragmentation loss
[61]
Ringtail - Phoenix Zoo
Like cats, they have a taste for mice and wood rats, and in the past were placed in mines and miner's cabins for rodent control. But ringtails are actually ...
[62]
[PDF] status of the ringtail in california - SDMMP.com
Ringtails are fully protected in California since 1967, and cannot be hunted or trapped. They are found in the Coast and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges.Missing: tameability | Show results with:tameability
[63]
State Laws: Private Possession of Exotic Animals | Born Free USA
Further, a person shall obtain a permit from the State Veterinarian before importing any of the following animals into the state: skunk; fox; raccoon; ringtail ...Missing: Bassariscus astutus
[64]
Ringtail | Stone Zoo - Zoo New England
Genus: Bassariscus Species: astutus. Ringtails have a cat-like body and fox-like face with large oval ears, bushy ringed tails, and semi-retractable claws.Missing: adaptations vision whiskers flexible
[65]
In the Field: Ringtails | San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Apr 19, 2019 · Ringtails take cover among boulders to stay safe while foraging at night. · This ringtail is being released after undergoing a health assessment ...
[66]
Gallery Item Display - National Park Service
The Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is a nocturnal animal well adapted to the park's rocky terrain. A good mouser, it is sometimes called "miner's cat" even ...Missing: morphology | Show results with:morphology
[67]
Shedding light on the cryptic ringtail - The Wildlife Society
“And we found the presence of fishers, another charismatic, cat-like carnivore known to compete with ringtails for resources, did not influence where ringtails ...
[68]
Furbearer Harvests in North America, 1600–1984 - ResearchGate
Apr 27, 2016 · hunters was more than 57% in both years. RINGTAILS. Detailed harvest data are only available for ringtails for the 20th. century. The fur of ...
[69]
Coatis, Raccoons, and Ringtails - National Park Service
Oct 3, 2025 · The small, squirrel-sized ringtail is Arizona's state mammal. Though fairly common at Saguaro National Park, they are secretive and rarely show ...