Coati

Coatis(fromTupí),also known ascoatimundis(/koʊˌɑːtɪˈmʌndi/),are members of the familyProcyonidaein the generaNasuaandNasuella(comprising the subtribeNasuina). They arediurnalmammalsnative toSouth America,Central America, Mexico, and theSouthwestern United States. The name "coatimundi" comes from theTupian languagesofBrazil, where it means "lone coati".Locally inBelize, the coati is known as "quash".
Adult coatis measure 33 to 69 cm (13 to 27 in) from head to the base of the tail, which can be as long as their bodies. Coatis are about 30 cm (12 in) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 2 and 8 kg (4.4 and 17.6 lb), about the size of a largehouse cat. Males can become almost twice as large as females and have large, sharpcanine teeth. The measurements above relate to the white-nosed and South America coatis. The two species of mountain coati are smaller.
All coatis share a slender head with an elongated, flexible, slightly upturned nose, small ears, dark feet, and a long non-prehensile tailused for balance and signaling.
Ring-tailed coatis have either a light brown or black coat, with a lighter underpart and a white-ringed tail in most cases. Coatis have a long brown tail with rings on it which are anywhere from starkly defined like araccoon's to very faint. As in raccoons but notring-tailed catsandcacomistles, the rings go completely around the tail. Coatis often hold the tail erect; it is used as such to keep troops of coatis together in tall vegetation. The tip of the tail can be moved slightly on its own, as is the case with cats, but it is not prehensile as is that of thekinkajou, another procyonid.
Coatis havebear- and raccoon-like paws and walkplantigradelike raccoons and bears (on the soles of the feet, as do humans). Coatis have nonretractable claws. Coatis also are able to rotate their ankles beyond 180°, in common with raccoons and other procyonids (and others in the order Carnivora and rare cases among other mammals); they are therefore able to descend trees head first. (Other animals living in forests have acquired some or all of these properties throughconvergent evolution, including members of themongoose,civet,weasel,cat, andbearfamilies.)
The coati snout is long and somewhatpig-like – part of the reason for its nickname, the "hog-nosed raccoon". It is also extremely flexible and can rotate up to 60° in any direction. They use their noses to push objects and rub parts of their body. The facial markings include white markings around the eyes and on the ears and snout.
Coatis have strong limbs to climb and dig and have a reputation forintelligence, like their fellowprocyonid, the raccoon. Unlike the nocturnal raccoons, however, most coatis arediurnal, although some may exhibitcathemeralbehavior.They prefer to sleep or rest in elevated places and niches, like therainforestcanopy, in crudely built sleeping nests.
Overall, coatis are widespread, occupying habitats ranging from hot andaridareas tohumidAmazonian rainforestsor even coldAndeanmountainslopes, includinggrasslandsand bushy areas. Their geographical range extends from thesouthwestern U.S.(southernArizona,New Mexico, andTexas) through northernUruguay.Around 10 coatis are thought to have formed a breeding population inCumbria, UK.
The following species are recognised:
TheCozumel Island coatiwas formerly recognised as a species, but the vast majority of recent authorities treat it as a subspecies,N. narica nelsoni, of the white-nosed coati.
Geneticevidence (cytochrome bsequences) has suggested that the genusNasuellashould be merged intoNasua, as the latter is otherwiseparaphyletic.Other genetic studies have shown that the closest relatives of the coatis are theolingos(genusBassaricyon);the two lineages are thought to have diverged about 10.2 million years ago.
Coatis can live up to seven years in the wild. In captivity, their average lifespan is about 14 years, and some coatis can live into their late teens.
Coatis areomnivores; their diet consists mainly ofground litter,invertebrates, such astarantula, andfruit(Alves-Costa et al., 2004, 2007; Hirsch 2007). They also eat smallvertebrateprey, such aslizards,rodents, smallbirds, birds'eggs, andcrocodileeggs. The snout, with an acutesense of smell, assists the paws in a hog-like manner to unearth invertebrates.
Little is known about the behaviour of the mountain coatis,and the following is almost entirely about the coatis of the genusNasua. Unlike most members of the raccoon family (Procyonidae), coatis are primarilydiurnal.Nasuacoati females and young males up to two years of age are gregarious and travel through their territories in noisy, loosely organised bands made up of four to 25 individuals, foraging with their offspring on the ground or in the forest canopy. Males over two years become solitary due to behavioural disposition and collective aggression from the females and will join the female groups only during thebreeding season.
When provoked, or for defence, coatis can be fierce fighters; their strong jaws, sharpcanine teeth, and fast scratching paws, along with a tough hide sturdily attached to the underlying muscles, make it very difficult for potential predators (e.g., dogs orjaguars) to seize the smaller mammal.
Coatis communicate their intentions or moods with chirping, snorting, or grunting sounds. Different chirping sounds are used to express joy duringsocial 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 recognise other coatis by their looks, voices, and smells, the individual smell is intensified by specialmusk-glands on their necks and bellies.
Coatis fromPanamaare known to rub their own fur and that of other troop members withresinfromTrattinnickia aspera(Burseraceae) trees, but its purpose is unclear. Some proposed possibilities are it serves as aninsect repellent, afungicide, or as a form ofscent-marking.Coatis rubpreputial glandsecretions on objects in theirhome ranges, but do not haveanal glands.
Coati 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. Female and young coatis commonly live in bands of 5 to 40 and travel together. The males are solitary and join the bands only during the short mating season.
For this period, an adult male is accepted into the band of females and juveniles near the beginning of the breeding season, leading to apolygynousmating 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 tolittersof three to seven kits. About six weeks after birth, the females and their young will rejoin the band. Females become sexually mature at two years of age, while males will acquiresexual maturityat three years of age.
Coati predators includejaguarundis,anacondas,pumas,maned wolves,boa constrictors,foxes,dogs,tayras,ocelots, andjaguars. Large raptors, such asornate hawk-eagles,black-and-chestnut eagles, andharpy eagles, also are known to hunt them.White-headed capuchinmonkeys hunt their pups.
In Central and South America, coatis are threatened by environmental destruction and unregulated hunting. A lack of scientifically soundpopulation studiescould be leading to an underestimation of the coati population and other ecological problems affecting the species.
Coatis are one of five groups ofprocyonidscommonly kept as pets in various parts of North, Central and South America, the others being theraccoons(commonandcrab-eating), thekinkajou,the ring-tailed catandcacomistle. However, while both the white-nosed and South America coatis are common in captivity, mountain coatis are extremely rare in captivity.
Coatis are small creatures that can be wild, somewhat difficult to control or train in some cases, and generally behave in a manner radically different from that of a pet dog.Optimally, they should have a spacious outdoor enclosure and a coati-proofed room in the house and/or other climate-controlled place, as well. They can be given the run of the house but need careful watching, more careful in some cases than others.
It is possible to litter or toilet train coatis;if one cannot be trained as such, it is still possible to lessen problems in that they tend to designate alatrine area, which can have a litter pan placed in it as is done with manyferrets,pet skunks,rabbits, androdents.Coatis generally need both dog and cat vaccines for distemper and many other diseases and aninactivatedrabies vaccine. They can be spayed or neutered for the same reason as cats and dogs and other pets.