Editing Ringtail (section)

{{Short description|Species of mammal}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Ringtail
| image = Squaw-ringtail-28073.jpg
| image_caption = Ringtail in [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref =<ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Bassariscus astutus'' |name-list-style=amp |author=Reid, F. |author2=Schipper, J. |author3=Timm, R. |date=2016 |page=e.T41680A45215881 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41680A45215881.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Bassariscus
| species = astutus
| authority = ([[Martin Lichtenstein|Lichtenstein]], 1830)
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision =
*''Bassariscus a. astutus''
*''Bassariscus a. arizonensis''
*''Bassariscus a. flavus''
*''Bassariscus a. yumanensis''
*''Bassariscus a. nevadensis''
| range_map = Ring-tailed Cat area.png
| range_map_caption = Ring-tailed cat range
}}

The '''ringtail''' ('''''Bassariscus astutus''''') is a [[mammal]] of the [[Procyonidae|raccoon family]] native to arid regions of [[North America]]. It is widely distributed and well-adapted to its distributed areas. It has been legally trapped for its fur. Globally, it is listed as [[Least Concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List]]<ref name=iucn/> but is a Conservation Strategy Species in Oregon<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ringtail {{!}} Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife |url=https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/ringtail |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=myodfw.com}}</ref> and Fully Protected in California<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fully Protected Animals |url=https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Fully-Protected |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=wildlife.ca.gov}}</ref> The species is known by a variety of names, such as '''ring-tailed cat''', '''miner's cat''', '''civet cat''', and '''cacomistle''' (or '''cacomixtle'''), though the last of these can refer to ''[[cacomistle|B. sumichrasti]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jirik |first=Kate |title=LibGuides: North American Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Fact Sheet: Taxonomy & History |url=https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/ringtail/taxonomy |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=ielc.libguides.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=cacomistle {{!}} mammal {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/cacomistle |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Jeffrey |title=Bassariscus astutus (ringtail) |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bassariscus_astutus/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=Animal Diversity Web |language=en}}</ref>

The ringtail is the [[List of U.S. state mammals|state mammal]] of [[Arizona]].<ref>{{cite report |title=State mammal |publisher=State of Arizona |department=Arizona State Library, Archives, & Public Records |url=https://azlibrary.gov/state-symbols/state-mammal |access-date=2019-05-24}}</ref>