ringtail

ringtail or ring-tailed cat: see cacomistle.

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raccoon

 or ringtail

North American raccoon (Procyon lotor).

(credit: Leonard Lee Rue III)

Any of seven species of omnivorous, nocturnal carnivores (genus Procyon, family Procyonidae) characterized by a bushy, ringed tail and a black mask on the face. The North American raccoon (P. lotor) has a stout body, short legs, pointed muzzle, and small erect ears. It is 30–36 in. (75–90 cm) long, including the 10-in. (25-cm) tail, and weighs over 22 lb (10 kg). The shaggy, coarse fur is iron-gray to blackish. The feet resemble slender human hands. Raccoons eat arthropods, rodents, frogs, berries, fruit, and plants; in towns and cities they thrive on garbage. They prefer woods near water and usually live in hollow trees. The crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus) of South America is similar but has coarser fur.

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ringtail

1. another name for cacomistle

2. Austral any of several possums having curling prehensile tails used to grasp branches while climbing

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ringtail [′riŋ‚tāl]

(vertebrate zoology)

cacomistle