# Ringtail (*Bassariscus astutus*) Ringtails are playful animals with long, striped tails. They love to climb and are often found in rocky areas or forests. Their big eyes help them see well at night! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Ringtail Cat ![Ringtail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bassariscus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bassariscus.jpg) ## Appearance The Ringtail is a slender mammal with large, dark eyes and a pointed snout framed by white markings, giving it a masked appearance. Its most distinctive feature is a long, bushy tail, often longer than its body, banded with alternating black and white rings. Its fur is typically yellowish-gray to dark brown. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Procyonidae - **Genus:** Bassariscus ## Interesting facts - A group of Ringtails is called a 'troop' or 'pack'. - Despite their name, Ringtails are not cats; they are related to raccoons. - Ringtails are known to squeeze through openings as small as one inch wide! - They often create dens in rocky crevices or hollow logs for shelter. ## Special abilities - **Super Climber:** Ringtails can rotate their hind ankles nearly 180 degrees, which helps them climb down headfirst from trees and cliffs. - **Night Vision Master:** Ringtails have large eyes that collect more light, helping them see clearly and hunt in the dark. - **Balance Beam King:** Ringtails have a long, ringed tail that acts like a counterbalance, helping them balance on narrow ledges. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-84 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 24 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 50-60 days ## Diet & Feeding A clever omnivore, it eats many things from mice and insects to berries and fruits. - **Primary Foods:** Peromyscus maniculatus, Neotoma albigula, Juniperus communis, Insects, Birds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — A natural predator of the Ringtail. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Hunts Ringtails from above at night. - **Hunts:** [White-throated Woodrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-throated-woodrat) (*Neotoma albigula*) — A common prey item for Ringtails. - **Eats:** [Common Juniper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-juniper) (*Juniperus communis*) — Ringtails consume its berries. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a wild ringtail, enjoy watching it from a distance and don't try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ringtail? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Ringtail? 60-84 cm ### How much does Ringtail weigh? 0.7-1.5 kg ### How long does Ringtail live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Ringtail move? 24 km/h ### What does Ringtail eat? A clever omnivore, it eats many things from mice and insects to berries and fruits. ### Where is Ringtail usually found? Forests ### How does Ringtail hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Frank Buck Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/frank-buck-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Pueblo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pueblo-zoo) — Colorado, US · Zoo - [Friedrich Wilderness Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/friedrich-wilderness-park) — Texas, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Ringtail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ringtail) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Ringtail: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ringtail)