Definition of cacomistle in English:
cacomistle
noun ˈkakə(ʊ)ˌmɪs(ə)lˈkakəˌmis(ə)l
A nocturnal raccoon-like animal with a dark-ringed tail, found in North and Central America.
Genus Bassariscus, family Procyonidae: two species. See also ring-tailed cat
Example sentencesExamples
- In this terrain the cacomistle, a catlike raccoon, lives in rock crevices.
- The cacomistle of Costa Rica is similar to the ring-tailed cat of North America, having a very bushy white tail with black rings and white spectacles around the eyes.
- Humans will hunt the cacomistle for its fur and meat, and will kill it when it preys on poultry.
- In Utah I associate the cacomistle with the sandstone desert of the Colorado Plateau.
- Like their cousins the cacomistles and ringtailed cats, Kinkajous can turn their hind feet backwards, so that the clawed toes can be used when descending head-first.
- For the most part, cacomistles are solitary.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Latin American Spanish cacomixtle, from Nahuatl tlacomiztli.