White-Nosed Coati

## About

A white-nosed coati in a tree.

The white-nosed coati ***(Nasua narica)*** (pronounced CO-WA-TEE) also known as the coatimundi, is a species of coati and a member of the Procyonidae family (Raccoon and relatives). The white-nosed coati reaches up to 91-121cm (3.5-4ft) with its long tail making up 60.96cm (2ft) of its length and weighing 2.5-12 kg (4,4-26lbs). It has a white and brown banded tail that like most domestic cats, stays up when it is walking making it uniquely one of the only members of its family to exhibit this behaviour. They have a elongated snout in which Animalia.bio describes to have sensory receptors on it, giving them an acute sense of smell, often used for finding prey as the snout can also reach crevices due to great muscle flexibility. The white-nosed coati also performs a fascinating act whilst drinking, as the tip of their snout slightly curls up when drinking to preserve the receptors on their nose. Coatis also has very small acute ears and long sharp claws perfect for gripping onto tough to scale trees and rocks. The white nosed coati has a semi prehensile tail meaning it is used for balancing on tree branches and other objects, unlike its cousin the Kinkajou ***(Postos flavus)***.

## Diet

White-nosed coatis are omnivorous meaning that they are adapted to eat both plants and animals. Their diet mainly consists of insects in which they find by locating the holes with their snouts and feeding from them using their flexible snouts. White-nosed coatis also will prey on small tree frogs in their range, and are suspected to even consume small rodents. White-nosed coatis also eat small reptiles, as well as fruits in which are processed through their body into excretions which allow the trees to regrow. It is notable that coatis can travel up to 2 km (1.24mi) a day just looking for food which is quite remarkable for such a small species.

## Conservation Status

The IUCN has listed the white-nosed coati as least concern, as their overall conversation status. Though the population of the white-nosed coati is decreasing meaning the number of mature individuals is either stagnated or declining. In New Mexico, the white-nosed coati is listed as regionally endangered due to overhunting in the area for their fur used in international fashion accessories. But in New Mexico the white-nosed coati is still given full legal protection in the state. In Arizona where there are the most concentrated population white-nosed coatis in all of North America however, the population is decreasing at a rapid rate due to constant year round hunting. There are still many positive conservation efforts being made for the white-nosed coati, like inland protection, and international control for the demand of overall coati product.

## Range and Population

The white-nosed coati ranges from Arizona. The population goes through the southern regions of Mexico (except the Baja peninsula and Central Sierra Madres). The population stretches through Costa Rica and Panama. The white-nosed coati also stretches through Colombia and the west Andes with the trend stopping at Peru. The current population trend registered by the IUCN is decreasing, though the number of mature individuals in unknown. In North America the population is much less then in Central America yet they are more prolific than in South America where the concern for the coati population decline is much more minimal.

## Behaviour

Unlike most coatis the Nature Works explains how the white-nosed coati is active during the day meaning that they are diurnal. Coatis during their juvenile and adolescent stage are very social and enjoy play fighting and wrestling each other just like other members of the Procyonidae family. Though male coatis are solitary during their lives, the females will spend their time with their young in packs of 4-40 individuals, in which they perform routine activities like grooming and foraging. Coatis can adapt to almost anything as their long tail not only keep them balance in trees where they spend their nights, but it also supports them when swimming, which they are particularly good at. Though, they spend most of their time on the ground playing a terrestrial role whilst they look for food.

### Relationship with Humans

White-nosed coatis have adapted to be able to habituate as white-nosed coati fact sheet explains as they are a big tourist attraction in zoos or in tourist populated areas where they are fed very often. They may also become a pest according to farmers in white-nosed coati populated areas as they steal crops or anything they can get their hands on. Adult male coatis have also been witnessed to defend themselves from captive pets like dogs or cats.

## In Captivity

According to ZOOINSTITUTES the white-nosed coati is found in many zoos across North America, as that is where they are most well known, but oddly enough no zoos in South America where their population is that its highest. Though, there are many zoos in Europe across regions like Czechia and Poland, even some found Oceania.

## Sources

* White-nosed coati | Nature Works - https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/coati.htm
* White-nosed coati | ZOOINSTITUTES - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/white-nosed-coati-1106/
* White-nosed coati | white-nosed coati fact sheet - https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/white-nosed-coati
* White-nosed coati | Animalia.bio - https://animalia.bio/white-nosed-coati
* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41683/45216060