The ringtail is commonly found in rocky desert habitats, where it nests in the hollows of trees or abandoned wooden structures. The ringtail's lifespan in the wild is about seven years. The cubs open their eyes after one month, and will hunt for themselves after four months. The gestation period is 45–50 days, during which the male will procure food for the female. Ringtails can survive for long periods on water derived from food alone, and have urine which is more concentrated than any other mammal studied, an adaptation that allows for maximum water retention. They exhibit limited interaction except during the breeding season, which occurs in the early spring. Ringtails prefer a solitary existence but may share a den or be found mutually grooming one another. In 2003, a study in Mexico City found that ringtails tended to defecate in similar areas in a seemingly nonrandom pattern, mimicking that of other carnivores that utilized excretions to mark territories. It has been suggested that ringtails use feces as a way to mark territory. Ringtails have been reported to exhibit fecal marking behavior as a form of intraspecific communication to define territory boundaries or attract potential mates. They produce a variety of sounds, including clicks and chatters reminiscent of raccoons. A typical call is a very loud, plaintive bark. Īs adults, these mammals lead solitary lives, generally coming together only to mate. Ringtails also can ascend narrow passages by stemming (pressing all feet on one wall and their back against the other or pressing both right feet on one wall and both left feet on the other), and wider cracks or openings by ricocheting between the walls. The long tail provides balance for negotiating narrow ledges and limbs, even allowing individuals to reverse directions by performing a cartwheel. The ankle joint is flexible and is able to rotate over 180 degrees, making the animal an agile climber. It typically weighs around 0.7 to 1.5 kg (1.5 to 3.3 lb). Its body alone measures 30–42 cm (12–17 in) and its tail averages 31–44 cm (12–17 in) from its base. Smaller than a house cat, it is one of the smallest extant procyonids (only the smallest in the olingo species group average smaller). The claws are short, straight, and semi-retractable, well-suited for climbing. The white rings act as a target, so when the tail rather than the body is caught, the ringtail has a greater chance of escaping. The rings on its tail can also act as a distraction for predators. An adept climber, it uses its long tail for balance. Ringtails are primarily nocturnal, with large eyes and upright ears that make it easier for them to navigate and forage in the dark. These animals are characterized by a long black and white "ringed" tail with 14–16 stripes, which is about the same length as its body. ![]() Ringtail on Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, Arizona. The ringtailed's face resembles a mask as dark brown and black hair surround its eyes. The animal has a pointed muzzle with long whiskers, similar to that of a fox (its Latin name means ‘clever little fox’) and its body resembles that of a cat. The ringtail is black to dark brown in color with pale underparts. The ringtail is the state mammal of Arizona. The species is known by variety of different names, such as ring-tailed cat, miner's cat, civet cat, and cacomistle (or cacomixtle), though the last of these can refer to B. ![]() It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is widely distributed and well adapted to disturbed areas. ![]() The ringtail ( Bassariscus astutus) is a mammal of the raccoon family native to arid regions of North America.
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