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Glite Dictionary
Bassariscus astutus

Bassariscus astutus

9.9
A small animal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail with black and white rings
  • noun
  • /ˌbæsəˈrɪskəs əˈstjuːtəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Bassariscus astutus
  • The distinctive bushy tail with black and white rings makes the Bassariscus astutus easy to identify.

Examples

  • Wildlife biologists observed a group of Bassariscus astutus foraging at dusk near the canyon.

  • The Bassariscus astutus is often found in rocky desert habitats throughout the American Southwest.

  • The Bassariscus astutus is often found in rocky areas.

  • Look at that Bassariscus astutus climbing the tree!

  • The distinctive bushy tail with black and white rings makes the Bassariscus astutus easy to identify.

  • Wildlife biologists observed a group of Bassariscus astutus foraging at dusk near the canyon.

  • The Bassariscus astutus is often found in rocky desert habitats throughout the American Southwest.

Synonyms

bassarisk
vsBassariscus astutus
  • US
9.9

A small mammal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail ringed black and white

is the scientific Latin name rather than the common name
ringtail
vsBassariscus astutus
  • US
8.1

A small North American mammal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail with black and white rings

is the scientific Latin name used in formal contexts
ring-tailed cat
vsBassariscus astutus
  • US
8.5

An animal like a raccoon that has a long bushy tail with black and white rings

is the formal Latin name not the compound common form
miner's cat
vsBassariscus astutus
  • US
9.9

A small animal like a raccoon with a long tail with black and white rings

is the Latin scientific name rather than a local nickname
civet cat
vsBassariscus astutus
  • US
8.1

A raccoon-like animal from Mexico and southwestern US with a long bushy tail with black-and-white rings

is the precise Latin name for this specific species
raccoon fox
vsBassariscus astutus
  • US
9.9

A small wild fox from Mexico and the US with a long bushy tail with black and white rings

is the specific Latin designation rather than a comparative label

Surface Forms

Bassariscus astutus singular
Bassariscus astutuses plural

Morphology

Bassariscus + astutus

This is a Latin binomial (scientific species name) functioning as a proper noun rather than a compositional English phrase; the label simply names a species and does not semantically combine the constituent words to yield 'raccoon-like mammal'. One constituent is not defined in the input and taxonomic Latin names are essentially arbitrary labels across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would not be able to derive the species meaning.

Etymology

Bassariscus astutus is the scientific name for a small, raccoon-like animal often called the 'ringtail' or 'ringtail cat'. The name brings a clear picture: the animal has a long, bushy tail with black and white rings, and that ringed tail is an easy memory hook to connect the name to the animal.