Coati
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The coati, genera Nasua and Nasuella, also known as the hog-nosed coon,Template:Fact snookum bear and Brazilian Aardvark, is a member of the raccoon family (Procyonidae); a diurnal mammal native to South, Central and south-western North America. The word "coatimundi" (pronounced /koʊˌɑːtɨˈmʌndi/ [1]) is a commonly used misnomer applied to solitary adult male N. nasua. The term is reported to be derived from the Tupi language (Brazil). Reports that this term is from the Guaraní language are likely untrue.Template:Fact
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Physical characteristics
The coati is a mammal related to the raccoon, but the species has a characteristic, long snout with somewhat pig-like features and bear-like paws. Ring-Tailed coatis have either a light brown or black coat, with a lighter under-part and a white-ringed tail in most cases. All coatis share a slender head with an elongated, slightly upward-turned nose, small ears, dark feet and a long, non-prehensile tail used for balance and signalling.
Adults measure 33 to 69 cm (13 to 27 inches) from head to the base of the tail, which can be as long as their bodies. Coatis are about 30 cm tall at the shoulder, and weigh between 3 and 8 kg, about the size of a large housecat. Males can become almost twice as large as females and have large, sharp canine teeth.
The muzzle is extremely flexible and can be rotated up to 60 degrees in any direction. The face markings include white markings around the eyes and on the ears and snout. Coatis often hold the tail erect, and it used as such to keep troops of coatis together in tall vegatation.
They have strong limbs to climb and dig, and have a reputation for intelligence, like their fellow procyonid the raccoon.
Coatis walk on the soles of their feet, like the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), but contrary to their much bigger relatives, coatis are able to descend trees headfirst thanks to a double-jointed, flexible ankle. They prefer to sleep or rest in elevated places and niches, like the rainforest canopy, in crudely-built sleeping nests.
Habitat and range
The coati is a widespread species living in habitats ranging from hot and arid areas to humid Amazonian rainforests or even cold Andean mountain slopes, including grasslands and bushy areas. Their geograpgical range extends from southern Arizona in the USA through northern Argentina, and they are often seen in Costa Rica. The following species have been scientifically described:
- South American Coati Nasua nasua
- Brown- or White-nosed Coati Nasua narica
- Nelson's Coati Nasua nelsoni
- Wedel's Coati Nasua wedeli
- Mountain or Andean Coati Nasuella olivacea
The coati species cited above have different geographical occurrences and can be told apart by their size, build, voice, and their hide colour.
Genetic studies have shown that the closest relatives of the coatis are the olingos.[2]
Lifespan
In the wild, coatis live for about 7 to 8 years, while in captivity they can live for up to 15 years.
Feeding habits
The coati is an omnivore; its diet consists mainly of ground litter invertebrates and fruit (Alves-Costa et al. 2004, 2007, Hirsch 2007). They also eat small vertebrate prey, such as lizards, rodents, small birds, and bird's eggs. The snout, with a formidable sense of smell, assists the skilled paws in a hog-like manner to unearth invertebrates.
Behaviour
Unlike most members of the raccoon family (Procyonidae), coatis are primarily diurnal. Coati females and young males up to 2 years of age are gregarious and travel through their territories in noisy, loosely-organized bands made up of 4 to 25 individuals, foraging with their offspring on the ground or in the forest's canopy. Males over 2 years become solitary due to behavioural disposition and collective aggression from the females, and will join the female groups only during the breeding season.
When provoked, or for defense, coatis can be fierce fighters: their strong jaws, sharp canine teeth, and fast scratching paws, along with a tough hide sturdily attached to the underlying muscles, make it very difficult for predators (e.g. dogs, jaguars) to seize the small mammal.
The coati communicates its intentions or moods with chirping, snorting or grunting sounds. Different chirping sounds are used to express joy during social grooming, appeasement after fights, or to convey irritation or anger. Snorting while digging, along with an erect tail, states territorial or food claims during foraging.
Coatis additionally use special postures or moves to convey simple messages; for example, hiding the nose between the front paws as a sign for submission; lowering the head, baring teeth and jumping at an enemy signal an aggressive disposition.
Individuals recognize other coatis by their looks, voices and smells, the individual smell is intensified by special musk-glands on their necks and bellies.
Reproduction
The coati's breeding season mainly corresponds with the start of the rainy season to coincide with maximum availability of food, especially fruits: between January and March in some areas, and between October and February in others. During the breeding season, an adult male is accepted into the band of females and juveniles near the beginning of the breeding season, leading to a polygynous mating system.
The pregnant females separate from the group, build a nest on a tree or in a rocky niche and, after a gestation period of about 11 weeks, give birth to litters of 3 to 7 young. About six weeks after birth, the females and their young will rejoin the band. Females become sexually mature at 2 years of age, while males will acquire sexual maturity at 3 years of age.
Natural enemies
Natural enemies include jaguarundis, foxes, tayras, ocelots, jaguars, hawks, eagles, and humans .[3]
Status
The coati faces unregulated hunting and the serious threat of environmental destruction in Central and South America. The absence of scientifically sound population studies of Nasua or Nasuella in the wild is probably leading to a severe underestimation of the ecological problems and decline in numbers affecting the species in Central and South America.Template:Fact
Successful adaptation to life in human proximity (e.g. similar to raccoons living in metropolitan areas in the U.S.) is very unlikely; the species is thus threatened by habitat destruction.Template:Fact
Coatis in captivity
Coatis are one of the four species of procyonids commonly kept as pets in various parts of North, Central, and South America, the others being the raccoon (Common and Crab-Eating), the kinkajou, and ringtail or cacomistle (also known as the miner's cat and ring-tailed cat). This small creature is wild, very difficult to control or train, and generally behaves radically different from a pet dog.
References
Template:Wikispecies Template:Commons Template:Wikispecies Template:Commons
Gallery
 White-nosed Coati at Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
 White-nosed Coati at Tikal, Guatemala |
 South American Coati Nasua nasua in an English zoo |
 White-nosed Coati in Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Costa Rica |
 South American Coati near Iguazu Falls, Brazil |
 Coatis foraging in trash near Christ the Redeemer (statue), Brazil |
 White-nosed Coati on Mt. Hopkins near Madera Canyon, Arizona |
 Coati from zoo in Czech republic |
