raccoon fox
- noun
- /ræˈkuːn fɑks/
- US
:
zorrillo
- Due to its distinctive ringed tail, the raccoon fox is sometimes mistaken for an actual raccoon.
Examples
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The raccoon fox is often seen darting between rocks in desert canyons at dusk.
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Several tourists were delighted to spot a raccoon fox in Big Bend National Park.
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The raccoon fox is known for its striking appearance.
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Many raccoon foxes can be found in the wild.
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The raccoon fox can be identified by its long bushy tail with distinctive black and white rings.
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In the wild, a raccoon fox often forages for food at night, showcasing its omnivorous diet.
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Visitors at the wildlife reserve were thrilled to catch a glimpse of a raccoon fox roaming near the campsite.
Synonyms
A small animal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail with black and white rings
A small North American mammal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail with black and white rings
An animal like a raccoon that has a long bushy tail with black and white rings
A small mammal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail ringed black and white
A small animal like a raccoon with a long tail with black and white rings
A small animal like a raccoon that lives in trees and has a long ringed tail
A small mammal like a raccoon with a long ringed tail that climbs trees and is active at night
A raccoon-like animal from Mexico and southwestern US with a long bushy tail with black-and-white rings
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun–noun compound whose meaning is compositionally built from 'raccoon' + 'fox' — a fox-like (or raccoon-like) mammal combining features of both. Such compounding is a common and transparent formation cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the referent.
Etymology
Raccoon fox may come from the animal's look: it has a bushy 'ringed tail' like a raccoon but the face and body of a fox. So the name helps you picture the animal and explains why people call it 'raccoon fox'.
