Cacomistle

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Cacomistle
Bassariscus sumichrasti.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Bassariscus
Species:
B. sumichrasti
Binomial name
Bassariscus sumichrasti
(Saussure, 1860)
Cacomistle area.png
Cacomistle range

The cacomistle ( /ˈkækəˌmɪsəl/ ; [2] [3] Bassariscus sumichrasti), also spelled cacomixtle, [4] [5] is a primarily nocturnal, arboreal, omnivorous member of the carnivoran family Procyonidae (coatis, kinkajous and raccoons). Depending on the location, its preferred habitats are humid and tropical evergreen jungle and montane cloud forests; seasonally, it may venture into drier, deciduous forests.

Although its total population is listed as being of "least concern" (i.e., stable), the cacomistle is still a highly cryptic, secretive animal, and generally an uncommon sight throughout much of its range (from southern México to western Panamá); this fact is especially true in Costa Rica, where it inhabits only a very small area. Additionally, the species is completely dependent on trees and dense vegetation for habitat, making it particularly susceptible to deforestation.

The name cacomistle comes from the Nahuatl language (tlahcomiztli) and means "half-cat" or "half-puma"; [6] the same name is also given, by some, to the North American Bassariscus astutus , more commonly known as the ringtail (or, semi-inaccurately, ringtail 'cat'). This "sister species" of the cacomistle inhabits a much more northerly and less tropical range, from arid Northern Mexico into the Southwestern United States.

Taxonomy

The cacomistle is one of two extant species in the genus Bassariscus , along with its close relative, the North American ringtail ( Bassariscus astutus ). Together, they form the Procyoninae, a subfamily of the greater Procyonidae of the Carnivora order, thus placing them with raccoons, coatis, olingos and kinkajous.

Currently, six regional subspecies of Bassariscus sumichrasti are recognized:

Description

Cacomistle (Bassariscus sumichrasti) Cacomistle 085.jpg
Cacomistle (Bassariscus sumichrasti)

This species of cacomistle's body is 38–47 cm in length, which is attached to a tail of approximately the same length, if not longer (typically 39–53 cm long). The male cacomistle is often slightly longer than its female counterpart, however both male and female have approximately the same weight, usually between 1 and 1.5 kg. [8] Their body consists of dark brown and grey fur, which stands as a stark contrast to the black and white striped tail. The tail stripes are the most defined near the animal's posterior end and gradually fade to a solid black at the end of the tail. The cacomistle is often confused with its close relative the Ring-tailed cat (Scientific name: Bassariscus astutus) because of the similarity of their appearance, but unlike the ring-tail cat the cacomistle does not have retractable claws. The cacomistle can also be identified by its faded tail and the observation of ears that come to a point. [7]

Distribution and habitat

The cacomistle inhabits the tropical forests of North America and Central America, from south-central Mexico to Panama. These animals are quite solitary and thus spread themselves out, with each cacomistle having a home range of at least 20 hectares (an area equivalent to 20 sports fields) [9] and are typically seen in the middle and upper levels of the canopy. [7] Throughout their broad range this species is found to inhabit a wide variety of different forest ecosystems. In Mexico, the cacomistle tends to avoid oak forests, secondary forest, and overgrown pastures, but in Costa Rica, the cacomistle has been shown to favor those exact habitats. [8]

Diet

Cacomistles are considered generalist feeders, because they can survive on a wide variety of different foods. [8] The diet of this species consists primarily of fruits, insects, small vertebrates such as reptiles, amphibians, and rodents, the specificity of these food options depends on what is available in the particular habitat in which an individual dwells. [7] The bromeliad is an excellent reservoir for food in the southern edge of the cacomistle's range, as these plants naturally collect water, insects and small animals found high in the canopy. [8]

Reproduction

Mating season is the only time cacomistles interact with each other, and it is only briefly as the female is only receptive to male approaches for one day. After mating, the female cacomistle undergoes a gestation period of approximately two months before giving birth to a single offspring. When the cub is three months old it is weaned, and then taught hunting and survival skills by its mother before going off to develop its own territory. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-nosed coati</span> Species of mammal

The white-nosed coati, also known as the coatimundi, is a species of coati and a member of the family Procyonidae. Local Spanish names for the species include antoon, gato solo, pizote, and tejón, depending upon the region. It weighs about 4–6 kg (8.8–13.2 lb), and the nose-to-tail length of the species is about 110 cm (3.6 ft) with about half of that being the tail length. However, small females can weigh as little as 3.1 kg (6.8 lb), while large males can weigh as much as 9 kg (20 lb).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coati</span> Variety of mammal

Coatis, also known as coatimundis, are members of the family Procyonidae in the genera Nasua and Nasuella. They are diurnal mammals native to South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Southwestern United States. The name "coatimundi" comes from the Tupian languages of Brazil, where it means "lone coati". Locally in Belize, the coati is known as "quash".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ringtail</span> Species of mammal

The ringtail is a mammal of the raccoon family native to arid regions of North America. It is widely distributed and well adapted to disturbed areas. It has been legally trapped for its fur. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The species is known by variety of different names, such as ring-tailed cat, miner's cat, civet cat, and cacomistle, though the last of these can refer to B. sumichrasti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Procyonidae</span> Family of mammals

Procyonidae is a New World family of the order Carnivora. It includes the raccoons, ringtails, cacomistles, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, and olinguitos. Procyonids inhabit a wide range of environments and are generally omnivorous.

<i>Procyon</i> (genus) Genus of carnivores

Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals comprising three species commonly known as raccoons in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon, is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and less well known. Genetic studies have shown that the closest relatives of raccoons are the ring-tailed cats and cacomistles of genus Bassariscus, from which they diverged about 10 million years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinkajou</span> South American honeyeater (Potos flavus)

The kinkajou is a tropical rainforest mammal of the family Procyonidae related to olingos, coatis, raccoons, and the ringtail and cacomistle. It is the only member of the genus Potos and is also known as the "honey bear". Kinkajous are arboreal, they are not closely related to any other tree-dwelling mammal group.

<i>Bassariscus</i> Genus of carnivores

Bassariscus is a genus in the family Procyonidae. There are two extant species in the genus: the ringtail or ring-tailed cat and the cacomistle. Genetic studies have indicated that the closest relatives of Bassariscus are raccoons, from which they diverged about 10 million years ago in the Tortonian Age of the Miocene. The two lineages of Bassariscus are thought to have separated after only another two million years, making it the extant procyonid genus with the earliest diversification. Later diversification in the genus in the Pliocene and Pleistocene saw the emergence of two extinct species, Bassariscus casei and Bassariscus sonoitensis, respectively. Due to the more digitigrade stance of their legs compared to the plantigrade stance of other members of Procyonidae, some taxonomies place the genus as a separate family, Bassaricidae.. The name is a Greek word for fox ("bassaris") with a Latinized diminutive ending ("-iscus"). The genus was named by Elliott Coues in 1887, having previously been described by Lichtenstein in 1830 under the name Bassaris. Coues proposed the word "bassarisk" as the English term for animals in this genus. Its habitat includes semi-arid areas in the southwestern United States, the whole of Mexico, as well as moist tropical forests in Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caniformia</span> Suborder of mammals

Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs, bears, raccoons, and mustelids. The Pinnipedia are also assigned to this group. The center of diversification for the Caniformia is North America and northern Eurasia. Caniformia stands in contrast to the other suborder of Carnivora, the Feliformia, the center of diversification of which was in Africa and southern Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Costa Rica</span> Wildlife in Costa Rica

The wildlife of Costa Rica comprises all naturally occurring animals, fungi and plants that reside in this Central American country. Costa Rica supports an enormous variety of wildlife, due in large part to its geographic position between North and South America, its neotropical climate, and its wide variety of habitats. Costa Rica is home to more than 500,000 species, which represent nearly 5% of the species estimated worldwide, making Costa Rica one of the 20 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. Of these 500,000 species, a little more than 300,000 are insects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern olingo</span> Species of carnivore

The northern olingo, also known as the bushy-tailed olingo or, simply, the olingo, is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) member of the raccoon family, Procyonidae, which also includes the coatimundis and kinkajou. Native to Central America, it was the first species of olingo to be scientifically described; while it is considered by some authors to be the only “true” olingo species, a review of the genus Bassaricyon had shown there to be a total of four species, two of those now being considered synonymous with the northern olingo. Its specific name honors William More Gabb (1839-1878), who found and collected the first specimen for western science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South American coati</span> Species of carnivore

The South American coati, also known as the ring-tailed coati, is a coati species and a member of the raccoon family (Procyonidae), found in the tropical and subtropical parts of South America. An adult generally weighs from 2–7.2 kg (4.4–15.9 lb) and is 85–113 cm (33–44 in) long, with half of that being its tail. Its color is highly variable and the rings on the tail may be only somewhat visible, but its most distinguishing characteristic is that it lacks the largely white snout of its northern relative, the white-nosed coati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cozumel raccoon</span> Species of critically endangered raccoon

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumichrast's vesper rat</span> Species of rodent

Sumichrast's vesper rat is a rodent of the family Cricetidae found from southern Mexico to Panama. It is named for François Sumichrast, the collector of the first specimen, and its closest relative is probably Hatt's vesper rat, a similar, but slightly smaller, species from the Yucatán Peninsula.

Ringtail, ring tail, or ring-tail may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musteloidea</span> Superfamily of carnivoran mammals

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veracruz montane forests</span> Tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in Mexico

The Veracruz montane forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in eastern Mexico. It includes a belt of montane tropical forest on the eastern slope of the southern Sierra Madre Oriental and eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt ranges. These forests lie between the lowland Veracruz moist forests and the pine-oak forests of the higher mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra de los Agustinos</span>

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References

  1. Pino, J., Samudio Jr, R., González-Maya, J.F. & Schipper, J. (2020). Bassariscus sumichrasti (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T2613A166521324.en
  2. "cacomistle". The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Chambers. 2003. ISBN   0-550-10105-5.
  3. "Definition of cacomistle | Dictionary.com". www.dictionary.com. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  4. "cacomistle | mammal | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  5. Jirik, Kate. "LibGuides: North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Fact Sheet: Taxonomy & History". ielc.libguides.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  6. Cacomistle. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
  7. 1 2 3 4 Cacomistle Pictures and Facts. thewebsiteofeverything.com
  8. 1 2 3 4 Garcia N.E., Vaughen C.S., McCoy M.B. (2002). "Cacomistle Ecology in Costa Rica". Vida Silvestre Neotropical. 11 (1–2): 52–59.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. How big is a hectare? metricviews.org.uk
  10. Trout, J.(2006). Central American Cacomistle. pensacolastate.edu Archived 11 July 2012 at archive.today