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Glite Dictionary
Bassariscidae

Bassariscidae

9.9
A group of small meat-eating animals like the ringtail and cacomistle
  • noun
  • /ˌbæsəˈrɪsɪˌdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: Bassariscidae
  • The Bassariscidae family includes species like the ringtail and the cacomistle.

Examples

  • Taxonomists sometimes classify Bassariscidae as distinct from the raccoon family, Procyonidae.

  • Members of the Bassariscidae are agile climbers native to North and Central America.

  • The Bassariscidae family includes both ringtails and cacomistles.

  • Did you know that Bassariscidae are sometimes confused with raccoons?

  • The Bassariscidae family includes well-known small carnivorous mammals like the ringtail and the cacomistle.

  • Scientists study the Bassariscidae to understand their unique behaviors and adaptations as carnivorous mammals.

  • In North and Central America, Bassariscidae are recognized for their agility as climbers among small mammals.

Surface Forms

Bassariscidae singular
Bassariscidae plural

Morphology

Bassariscidae = Bassariscus (opaque) = Bassarisc + idae

The form is constructed from the genus name plus the specialized taxonomic suffix '-idae' meaning 'family', which is domain-specific and not derivable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Bassariscidae comes from the scientific name Bassariscus plus the family ending -idae, which means 'family of' in animal names and is like Canidae (the dog family) or Felidae (the cat family). So, Bassariscidae simply means the family that contains animals such as the ringtail and the cacomistle.