The Making of a Diorama
The Habitat Views video considers ways of looking at dioramas today, and documents the creation of several new displays. Take a look over on our YouTube Channel >
Do Dolphins Have Hair?
Our mammal researchers answer this and other questions on our Mammalogy FAQs page.
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Recreating Nature Indoors
Ever wonder who made the dioramas in our mammal halls? Read all about the artists who created these wonderful scenes. Learn more >
Our Exhibits Meet State Standards!
Our diorama halls are just one place where teachers and chaperones can meet State Standards! To download easy-to-use field trip guides that are aligned with Standards.
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Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus (Lichtenstein, 1830)
Scene:
Rock outcrop in Whipple Mountains, five miles west of Parker Dam in southeastern California.Sponsor:
Kenneth E. StagerBackground artist:
Steve Hill and James R. OlsonAlso present:
Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus),western banded gecko (Coleonyx variegatus),
night snake (Hypsiglena torquata),
tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes),
stink beetle (Eleodes sp).
The ringtail, the state mammal of Arizona, is a member of the raccoon family and is native to the New World. Nocturnal and shy, it is seldom seen in the wild.
Biological Information
Range:
Mountains, badlands and forests in southwestern United States to Baja California and southern Mexico
Habitat:
Shelter-providing rocky broken areas in a variety of habitats ranging from mountain to desert
Status:
Common in mountainous and rocky terrain, less so in forests
Diet:
Omnivorous: small mammals, grasshoppers, beetles, fruits, eggs, lizards, and carrion
Further information about this species may be found on the Animal Diversity Web page for ringtail.