The ring-tailed cat, despite its name, is not a cat but a small nocturnal member of the raccoon family found in arid and rocky habitats across the southwestern United States and Mexico. It has large eyes, a slender fox-like body, and a bushy tail ringed in black and white that is nearly as long as its body, aiding balance as it climbs cliffs and canyon walls. It preys on rodents, insects, and small birds and was long valued by miners and settlers for controlling rodents around buildings, giving it the folk name miner's cat.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Ringtail (Wikidata)
In Biome
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Bassariscus astutus
Desert, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Bassariscus astutus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. Ringtail (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q632701 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, habitat (P2974): Terrestrial
Wikidata habitat statement (P2974) resolves to a terrestrial habitat type.
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
Wikidata Q632701 (P1034 main food source): fish
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): fish.
Wikidata Q632701 (P1034 main food source): fruit
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): fruit.
Wikidata Q632701 (P1034 main food source): bird
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): bird.
Wikidata Q632701 (P1034 main food source): carrion
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): carrion.
Wikidata Q632701 (P1034 main food source): insect
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): insect.
- Child Taxon Of: Procyonidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 3. Wikipedia: Ring-tailed Cat
WikipediaLead
It has been legally trapped for its fur.
Introduction
Globally, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List but is a Conservation Strategy Species in Oregon and Fully Protected in California.
View the Source 4. NatureServe Explorer: Bassariscus astutus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
5. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Bassariscus astutus
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
In Biome: Desert, Habitat Regions, biome: desert or dune
desert or dune desert or dune
In Biome: Chaparral, Habitat Regions, biome: chaparral
chaparral chaparral
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.