Ringtail

A ringtail is also a type of sail; the White-headed Capuchin is also known as the ringtail monkey. Ringtail is also a company, specialising in large-scale, asp-driven litigation support software, which was purchased by FTI consulting in February 2005.

Ringtail
File:Ringtailcat.gif
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Procyonidae
Genus:	Bassariscus
Species:	B. astutus
Binomial name
Bassariscus astutus (Lichtenstein, 1830)

The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is a mammal of the raccoon family, native to North America. It is also known as the ringtail cat or miner's cat, and is sometimes mistakenly called a civet cat, which is a different species.

Physical description

The ringtail is buff to dark brown in color with white underparts and a flashy black and white striped tail which is longer than the rest of its body. The eyes are large and black, each surrounded by a patch of light fur. It is smaller than a housecat, measuring 30–42 cm long with a tail of 31–44 cm and weighing 0.8–1.5 kg.

Range and habitat

The ringtail is found throughout California, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and parts of northern Mexico. It is found in rocky, forested habitat, where it nests in the hollows of trees or abandoned wooden structures.

Agility

The ankle joint is flexible and able to rotate over 180 degrees, a trait helping make it an agile climber. Their considerable tail provides balance for negotiating narrow ledges and limbs, even allowing them to reverse directions by performing a cartwheel. 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.

Habits

It is nocturnal, solitary, timid, and rarely seen. It is omnivorous, eating fruits, berries, insects, lizards, small rodents and birds. Owls, coyotes, raccoons and bobcats prey on ringtails. Ringtails make a variety sounds, including clicks and chatters reminiscent of raccoons. The call is a very loud, plaintive bark. As adults they lead solitary lives, except when a male and female come together to mate in the spring. The female gives birth to 2 or 3 young in her nest.

The ringtail is said to be easily tamed, and can make an affectionate pet and effective mouser. Miners and settlers once kept pet ringtails to keep their cabins free of vermin. A hole was cut in a small box and placed near a wood-burning stove as a dark, warm place for the ringtail to sleep during the day. The animal would come out at night to prey on mice. Ringtails have occasionally been hunted for their pelts, but the fur is not terribly valuable.

The ringtail is the state mammal of Arizona.

References

• Template:IUCN2006
• Nowak, Ronald M. (2005). Walker's Carnivores of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-8032-7