A coati is a mammal that is related to the raccoon. However, it has a slimmer body, a longer tail, and a long flexible snout. It has small ears and a flat forehead. Its fur is brown or rust colored with white spots above and below each eye. Its soft curly underfur protects it from the cold. Coatis weigh between 15-25 pounds. The length of a coati's body and head is 13-27 inches. Its tail is 13-28 inches. The ringed tail is carried upright and is used for balance when it climbs trees. The coati also uses its tail as a brake. It wraps it around vines when climbing headfirst down trees. It has 40 teeth which are extremely well developed and useful. It has 5 toes on each foot. It has strong claws for digging, and it walks on the entire foot.
Coatis once lived in the woodlands of Central America and Mexico, but in about 1900 they crossed the border into Texas, probably because their predators were exterminated. Now the coatis' range and habitat is grasslands, dense forests, wet jungles, and deserts in southwestern United States though Argentina. They can be seen as far west as southern California. In the southwest, where there are very few trees, instead of sleeping in trees as most coatis do, they have adapted to the lack of trees and live in caves and rock piles.
Coatis usually live in groups of 4 to 30 or more females called a band. The male coati lives alone except during mating season. The males do very little or nothing to provide for the young. The males compete for females by leaving scents of urine and musk. Coatis build their nests in trees or tree trunk cavities to have their babies. Their gestation is two and a half months. They can have 2-7 young. The young will be full grown when they are two years old. (24 mo.)
The coati is often called a hog nosed coon because of its long snout. Its nose is very sensitive, which is great for sniffing out food. If the coati smells food underground it will dig unneath the rocks or crevices looking for the food. Sometimes the coati will use its long claws to tear apart rotting logs, looking for food. Coatis are classified as carnivores, but they'll eat almost anything like eggs, mice, berries, crayfish, corn, insects, nuts and fruits. The zoo diet consists of crickets, worms, omnivore biscuits, puppy dog food, bananas, grapes, melons, and pears.
The coati life span is about 7- 14 years, but they usually don't live that long in the wild. If a coati is suprised by an animal, it will jump into the trees and make noises that sound like a wolf.
The Brandywine Zoo has two coatis. The male's name is Leon. The female is named Conchita. Leon is more social. He is thinner and darker in color. Sometimes the hair under his legs and chest area gets thin, probably because of the kind of bedding that is used in the zoo. Leon especially likes bananas and will go pick the bananas out of Conchita's bowl. Because coatis are very curious, the zoo keepers hide raisins and peanut butter in tree holes to keep them from getting bored.
For more information visit:
http://www.belizezoo.org/zoo/zoo/mammals/coa/coa1.html
http://www.desertusa.com/may97/du_
coati2.html
http://www.wildlifeeasyst.com/coatimundi.htm
http://www.okagnet.com/coatiinfo1.html
by Danielle
back to Animals