cacomistle

cacomistle
/kak"euh mis'euhl/, n.
1. Also, cacomixle /kak"euh mis'euhl, -mik'seuhl/. Also called bassarisk, ringtail, coon cat. a carnivorous animal, Bassariscus astutus, of Mexico and the southwestern U.S., related to the raccoon but smaller, with a sharper snout and longer tail.
2. See civet cat.
[1865-70, Amer.; < MexSp cacomiztle, cacomixtle < Nahuatl tlahcomiztli, equiv. to tlahco- half, middle + miztli cougar]

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▪ mammal
also spelled  Cacomixl 

      (Bassariscus), either of two species of large-eyed, long-tailed carnivores related to the raccoon (family Procyonidae). Cacomistles are grayish brown with lighter underparts and white patches over their eyes. The total length is about 60–100 cm (24–40 inches), about half of which is the bushy, black-and-white-ringed tail. The animals weigh about 1 kg (2.2 pounds) and have small faces with long ears and pointed snouts. They are arboreal and nocturnal and feed on a variety of small animals, fruit, and vegetation. The gestation period is about 51–54 days, and litters contain from one to five (usually three or four) young.

      The species B. astutus, widely known as miner's cat, ringtailed cat, or ringtail, is found in rocky areas from the southwestern United States to southern Mexico. It is an agile animal with rounded ears and semiretractile claws. It is sometimes kept as a pet and is an excellent mouser. The species B. (formerly Jentinkia) sumichrasti ranges in forests from Central America to Peru. Larger, darker-furred, and more arboreal than the ringtail, it has pointed ears and nonretractile claws.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Cacomistle — Conservation status Least Concern ( …   Wikipedia

  • cacomistle — ☆ cacomistle [kak′əmis΄əl, kak′əmik΄səlkak′ə mis΄əl ] n. [AmSp cacomixtle < Nahuatl λ aʾ komisλ i < λ aʾ ko, half + mis λ i, cougar] 1. a slender, long tailed, raccoonlike carnivore (Bassariscus astutus) of the SW U.S. and Mexico 2. its fur …   English World dictionary

  • cacomistle — Pietų Amerikos basariskas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Bassariscus astutus angl. cacomistle; North American cacomistle; ringtail; ring tailed cat vok. nordamerikanisches Katzenfrett rus.… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • cacomistle — noun Etymology: Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl tlahcomiztli, from tlahco half + miztli mountain lion Date: 1869 ringtail 2 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cacomistle — n. carnivorous mammal with a long bushy tail with black and white rings (resembles the raccoon) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • cacomistle — [ kakə(ʊ)ˌmɪs(ə)l] noun a nocturnal raccoon like animal with a dark ringed tail, found in North and Central America. [Genus Bassariscus: two species.] Origin C19: from Latin Amer. Sp. cacomixtle, from Nahuatl tlacomiztli …   English new terms dictionary

  • cacomistle — cac·o·mis·tle …   English syllables

  • cacomistle — cac•o•mis•tle or cac•o•mix•le [[t]ˈkæk əˌmɪs əl[/t]] n. mam a slender, raccoonlike carnivorous mammal, Bassariscus astutus, of Mexico and the southwestern U.S., with a long tail • Etymology: 1865–70, amer.; < MexSp cacomiztle, cacomixtle <… …   From formal English to slang

  • cacomistle — /ˈkækəmɪsəl/ (say kakuhmisuhl) noun either of two carnivorous mammals of the genus Bassariscus, of America, related to the raccoon but smaller, with a sharper snout and longer tail. Also, cacomixle /ˈkækəmɪsəl/ (say kakuhmisuhl), / mɪksəl/ (say… …  

  • cacomistle — n. any racoon like animal of several species of the genus Bassariscus, native to Central America, having a dark ringed tail. Etymology: Amer. Sp. cacomixtle f. Nahuatl tlacomiztli …   Useful english dictionary

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