Cacomistle

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cacomistle

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Bassariscus
Species:
B. sumichrasti
Binomial name
Bassariscus sumichrasti
(
Saussure
, 1860)
Cacomistle range

The cacomistle (

tropical, evergreen woodlands and mountain forests, though seasonally it will venture into drier deciduous
forests.

Nowhere in its range (from southern Mexico to western Panama) is B. sumichrasti common. This is especially true in Costa Rica, where it inhabits only a very small area. It is completely dependent on forest habitat, making it particularly susceptible to deforestation.

The term cacomistle is from the

ringtail, Bassariscus astutus, a similar species that inhabits arid northern Mexico and the American Southwest
.

Taxonomy

The cacomistle is part of the family

ringtail, are the only living species of the subfamily Procyoninae and the genus Bassariscus. Within the Cacomistle species there are 5 subspecies (Bassariscus sumichrasti variabilis, Bassariscus sumichrasti sumichrasti, Bassariscus sumichrasti oaxacensis, Bassariscus sumichrasti notinus, and Bassariscus sumichrasti latrans).[7]

Description

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.

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.

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]

References

  1. .
  2. ^ "Definition of cacomistle | Dictionary.com". www.dictionary.com. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  3. ^ "cacomistle | mammal | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  4. ^ Jirik, Kate. "LibGuides: North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Fact Sheet: Taxonomy & History". ielc.libguides.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  5. ^ Cacomistle. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
  6. ^ a b c d Cacomistle Pictures and Facts. thewebsiteofeverything.com
  7. ^ a b c d 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)
  8. ^ How big is a hectare? metricviews.org.uk
  9. ^ Trout, J.(2006). Central American Cacomistle. pensacolastate.edu Archived 11 July 2012 at archive.today

External links