[Animals] This is the cacomixtle, the American "half feline" that hunts at night

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The cacomixtle is key in the maintenance of the ecosystems in which it lives, since it controls pests and favors the growth of plants
The cacomixtle is a mammal that could easily be confused with a feline, however, it is not. Precisely because of this incredible similarity, its name, of Nahuatl origin, alludes to this characteristic: Tlacomiztli (half feline).

This small nocturnal animal has learned to live among human beings, without this being a product of domestication, since, in some places, urbanization has reached its habitat. This is what we know.

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Cacomixtle: the “feline half” of the night
The first to describe the cacomixtle was the American, Elliott Coues. This in 1887. This author also proposed the term "bassarisk" to group the animals of this genus. The distribution of this mammal ranges from some southern states of the United States to the tropical forests of Central America. Two types can be found in Mexico: Bassariscus sumichrasti and Bassariscus astutus.

As already mentioned, the cacomixtle is a small mammal. Its body can reach 40 centimeters, while its tail, by itself, is slightly longer due to the fact that it reaches almost half a meter. This animal is brown, normally, with a white belly and its tail is characterized by black rings that are distributed along it.

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Cacomixtles are also notable for their large eyes, which are surrounded by lighter fur. It is not usual for these animals to weigh more than a kilo and a half. Under the right conditions, these mammals can live up to seven years.

Behavior and ecological importance
Something that distinguishes cacomixtles is their ability to climb trees. To carry out this skill, these mammals use the balance that their tail gives them. Additionally, they have the ability to rotate their ankle more than 180 degrees. This ability makes them quite agile.

Much of the time, the cacomixtle is in the trees. There, especially at night, it feeds on fruits, insects, rodents and small reptiles. On the other hand, it is preyed upon by coyotes, owls, raccoons, and bobcats.

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The behavior of cacomixtles is that of a solitary animal. Most of the time, as was said, it is in the trees and in its burrows. It is only during the reproductive periods that these mammals come together. Gestation occurs between 45 and 50 days. Per litter there can be from 2 to 4 individuals.

This mammal also plays an important role in preserving the ecosystems it inhabits. By feeding on fruits, the seeds, which are not destroyed in the digestive process, return to the ground, and with it, in the right conditions, nature regenerates itself. In addition, the cacomixtles, due to their diet, are pest controllers that, in their absence, would reduce the vegetation.

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/cacomixtle-el-mitad-felino-que-caza-por-la-noche/