The Nature Library

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Texas Bassaris

Also called: Ring-tailed Cat, Civet Cat, Cacomistle.

Images coming soon.

Length
28 inches.
Description
Much more slender than the Raccoon, with a long tail. Colour, yellowish-brown, inclining to gray above, below white; tail ringed with black and white.
Range
Texas, with an allied variety in California and Oregon, and others in Mexico.

The Bassaris is a beautiful little animal, with its slender, almost weasel-like body and handsome ringed tail. It seems to be more characteristic of Mexico than of our own country, and, although it ranges well northward in suitable regions, but little has been learned of its life history. Its nocturnal habits and life among the rocks and trees probably has much to do with this. In captivity it is said to be gentle and docile.