Knowra Cacomistle Cacomistle The cacomistle (Bassariscus sumichrasti) is a nocturnal, tree-dwelling mammal native to Central America. It is a member of the raccoon family, Procyonidae, and has a long, ringed tail.
Procyonidae : A family of mostly omnivorous mammals that includes raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, and ringtails. This family places the cacomistle among its closest living relatives.
Neotropical realm : A biogeographic realm covering tropical Central and South America and nearby islands. The cacomistle is native to this broader American biogeographic region.
Kinkajou : A nocturnal Central and South American procyonid with a prehensile tail and a diet rich in fruit and nectar. Like the cacomistle, it is arboreal and nocturnal, but its tail can grip branches.
Bassariscus sumichrasti : The scientific species name for the cacomistle, a procyonid native to Central America. This binomial identifies the species described on this page.
Bassariscus : A genus of small procyonids that includes the cacomistle and the ringtail. The cacomistle is one of two living species in this genus.
Tropical forest : A forest ecosystem found in warm regions, often with high rainfall and dense vegetation. The cacomistle inhabits tropical forests across its Central American range.
Coati : A procyonid mammal with a long snout and tail, usually active by day and often foraging on the ground. Its daytime, terrestrial habits differ from the cacomistle’s nocturnal life in trees.
Bassariscus astutus : The ringtail species, a close relative of the cacomistle found mainly in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the other living species in Bassariscus and occupies a more northerly range.
Ringtails : A nocturnal North American procyonid, Bassariscus astutus, with a long, banded tail. This close relative shares the cacomistle’s genus but occupies a different range.
Arboreality : The use of trees as a primary environment for movement, feeding, or shelter. Its tree-dwelling habits shape how the cacomistle forages and avoids danger.
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