North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Fact Sheet: Physical Characteristics

Characteristics of the genus Bassariscus (from Zeveloff 2002 unless otherwise noted)

• Smallest procyonids
  • c. size of an average domestic cat
• Face fox-like with large ears
• Large eyes
• Whiskers
• Carnassial teeth, sharp and capable of slicing through muscle

Species-specific characteristics (B. astutus) (summarized from Nowak 1999; Zeveloff 2002)

• Dorsal pelage
• Gray with yellowish tinge, typically
• Under parts
• White or white washed with buff
• Eyes
• Dark
• Ringed with black inset within white fur
• Tail bushy
• As long as or longer than head and body
• Banded with black and white along its length
• Terminal black tip
• Ears rounded

How to distinguish the two Bassariscus species

Male slightly larger than females (Nowak 1999; Hoffmeister 1986)

• Male mass c.20% greater than that of females, according to measurements of live trapped ringtails in California's Central Valley (Belluomini 1983)
  • Male: c. 1.126 kg (range 1.000-1.350 kg)
  • Female: c. 0.958 kg (range: 0.800-1.170 kg)

Scat identification (from Trapp 1978)

• Odor
• Minimal; a mild fruity smell
• Unlike the musky smell of fox scat
• Appearance
• A single segment, most often
• Length: c. 46 mm (1.8 in)
• Diameter: c. 10 mm (0.4 in)
• Location
• Droppings deposited on or near those of other animals, or elevated on boulders, logs, or stumps near trails

Ringtails are characterized by large rounded ears, large eyes, and a distinctive tail.

Image credits: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Belluomini (1983)
Hoffmeister (1986)
Nowak (1999)
Poglayen-Neuwall and Toweill (1988)
Trapp (1978)
Zeveloff (2002)