Cacomistle

Cacomistle — The Cacomistle (Bassariscus sumichrasti) is a nocturnal arboreal omnivore. Its preferred habitat are wet, tropical evergreen woodlands and mountain forests, though seasonally it will inhabit drier deciduous forests.

Nowhere in its range (from southern Mexico to western Panama) is B. sumichrasti common. This is especially true in Costa Rica, where it inhabits only a very small area. It is completely dependent on forests, making it particularly susceptible to deforestation.

The term cacomistle is from the Nahuatl language (tlacomiztli) and means “half cat” or “half lion” (also seen as half mountain lion); it is sometimes also used to refer to the ringtail, Bassariscus astutus, a similar species. This specimen is also known, as the “Ringtailed Cat.”