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Ringtail Facts

Ringtail Facts
Ringtail is small mammal that looks like a blend of fox and raccoon. It belongs to the family Procyonidae (cacomistle is one of its closest relatives). There are 14 subspecies of ringtail that can be found in Central America, northern parts of South America and southern parts of North America. They inhabit forests, canyons, and arid rocky areas. Ringtails can survive on the altitude of 9.500 feet. Farmers often kill ringtails to protect their crops. Also, they are prone to viral diseases. Despite that, ringtails are numerous in the wild. They are not on the list of endangered species.
Interesting Ringtail Facts:
Ringtails can reach 12 to 17 inches in length and 1.5 to 3.3 pounds of weight.
Ringtails are covered with dense coat that consists of light-yellowish or dark brown topcoat and grayish undercoat. Underside of the body is white or buff colored. Eyes are encircled with white fur.
Ringtails have long, fluffy tail covered with 14 to 16 alternately arranged black and white rings, hence the name - ringtail.
Ringtails have pointed muzzle, large, rounded ears, long whiskers, elongated body and short legs.
Ringtails have flexible joints on the hind legs that can be rotated for 180 degrees. They facilitate movement along the branches, rocks and other vertical objects (such as walls).
Ringtail is also known as "miner's cat" because it was used to eradicate pests from the miners' cabins in the past.
Ringtails are nocturnal creatures (active at night). They hide in the crevices of rocks, in the hollows of trees, under the logs or in the abandoned buildings during the day.
Ringtails are omnivores (they eat plants and meat). Insects and fruit represent basic type of food during the spring, summer and autumn. Small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes and frogs are on the menu during the winter.
Ringtails use excellent sense of hearing and eyesight to detect predators such as coyotes, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, hawks and owls.
Ringtails are territorial animals. Size of a territory can range from 44 to 514 hectares, depending on the available sources of food.
Ringtails are vocal animals. They are able to bark, scream, hiss and growl. Ringtails also communicate via scents.
Ringtails are solitary animals except during the mating season which takes place from February to May.
Males provide food for pregnant females. Gestation period lasts 45 to 50 days and ends with 1 to 5 (usually 2 to 4) cubs. Babies are blind and helpless at birth. Female changes location of den every couple of days to protect her babies from the predators.
Young ringtails are ready to hunt at the age of 4 months. They reach sexual maturity at the age of 10 months.
Ringtails can survive up to 7 years in the wild.


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