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Range
The Cacomistle ranges from southwest Oregon and Texas to southern Mexico.
Habitat
Slopes with plenty of vegetation and a rocky environment near water.
Size
The Cacomistle is about 6 inches high at its shoulder level. It is about 25 - 32 inches long (one half of its tail). They weigh about 2 - 3 pounds.
Characteristics
The Cacomistle is a small aware cousin of the raccoon. It has soft gray - tan fur and a long tail with black and white rings like a ring-tailed lemur. The Cacomistle has a broad face.
Behavior
The Cacomistle is a nocturnal mammal and also omnivorous (which means eats both meat and vegetation). The Cacomistle can leap great distances and also is a professional climber. They have semi-retractable claws and a great tail for balancing on thin branches. They are generally very quiet and solitary. They are very organized too. When disturbed, Cacomistles can make sounds of anger, sort of like squeaking sounds.
Reproduction
Cacomistles have usually from 1 - 5 youngsters born from May to June. Their gestation period is about 40 to 70 days long. The kits are born with their eyelids shut, also having no teeth to eat with until a point in time. They are weaned at 3 weeks of their lives and their eyes start to open from about 4 to 5 weeks. By two months of age, they begin to hunt with their parents learning rapidly.
Lifespan
Cacomistles usually live around 8 - 14 years and if lucky, sometimes even longer.
Diet
Their main courses are mice and fruit. They especially adore bananas.
Predators
Their primary predators are mainly owls and large carnivores.
Miscellaneous
The Cacomistle often inhabits deserted homes of other creatures. Cacomistles are sometime called ring-tailed cats, although they are not related to cats in anyway.
