Easily recognized by its bandit-like face markings and striped tail, the coati is part of the Procyonidae family, which includes raccoons. Despite their similar appearance, coatis have many unique traits. Unlike raccoons, which are nocturnal, coatis are diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day. They also have long, upturned snouts, earning them the nickname “hog-nosed raccoon.”
Another notable difference is their tail. While raccoons have short, bushy tails, coatis possess long, thin, and somewhat prehensile tails, which help them balance and grip tree branches as they navigate treetops. On the ground, they often carry their tails high, perhaps signaling their location to others in their group, much like how ring-tailed lemurs behave, despite the two species being unrelated.
Habitat and Diet
Coatis have a wide range, from the southwestern United States down to northern Argentina and Uruguay, thriving in diverse habitats such as rainforests, grasslands, and mountain slopes. Their adaptable diet is a key to their survival, as they consume anything from fruit and leaves to insects, tarantulas, birds, lizards, rodents, and even crocodile eggs.
Social Structure and Reproduction
Coatis typically live in bands of 4 to 20 individuals, consisting mainly of females and their young. Adult males are solitary, joining the group only during the mating season. Early on, people thought male coatis were a different species because of their size and independent lifestyle, calling them “coatimundis,” which means “lone coati” in Guarani, a South American language.
Female coatis give birth after a short 10 to 11-week pregnancy, building nests in the forest canopy. Litters can range from two to seven babies, known as “kittens.” Female coatis practice reciprocal altruism, where they help babysit each other’s young, even allowing the kittens to nurse from other females in the group.
Threats to Survival
Coatis face many predators, including jaguars, ocelots, maned wolves, large snakes, and birds of prey. Humans also pose a threat by hunting coatis for their meat and fur, or when they are considered pests. In some cases, coatis are captured and sold as exotic pets.
Conservation Status
There are four coati species, all experiencing population declines. The South American coati (Nasua nasua) and the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) are currently listed as species of least concern. However, the western mountain coati (Nasuella olivacea) is classified as near threatened, and the eastern mountain coati (Nasuella meridensis) is endangered, primarily due to habitat loss in the Andes Mountains.