Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnivorans)
- FamilyProcyonidae (Raccoons, Coatis, and Allies)
- GenusBassariscus (Cacomistles)
- SpeciesBassariscus astutus (Ringtail)
About the Ringtail
The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is a mammal of the raccoon family native to arid regions of North America. It is widely distributed and well-adapted to its distributed areas. It has been legally trapped for its fur. 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. The ringtail is the state mammal of Arizona.
The species is known by a variety of common names, such as ring-tailed cat, miner's cat, civet cat, and cacomistle (or cacomixtle), though as a relative of the raccoon, the ringtail is only distantly related to Feliform true cats and civets, and "cacomistle" can also refer to B. sumichrasti.
The ringtail is black to dark brown in color with pale underparts. 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's face resembles a mask as dark brown and black hair surround its eyes.
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. Ringtails are primarily nocturnal... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
Coyote
Canis latrans
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
Hooded Skunk
Mephitis macroura
Common Hog-nosed Skunk
Conepatus leuconotus
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Desert Spotted Skunk
Spilogale leucoparia
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 8 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 12 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Ringtail in Saguaro National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Ringtail sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 24 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Ringtail in Saguaro National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Ringtail in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.