The different species of coati are widespread across Central and South America. They are very sociable in comparison to most other bears and raccoons.

Distribution area and habitat

The coati or white-nosed coati lives in Mexico and Central America. It inhabits woods, bushland and semi-deserts.

Appearance, height and weight

Coatis resemble raccoons although their bodies are slimmer, legs and tails longer and their flexible snout is elongated like a trunk. The white-nosed coati has a grey-yellow to brown colouring and a head and body length of around 40-64 centimetres. The South American coati, Nasua nasua, is smaller and a reddish-brown colour.

Diet

Coatis use their long, flexible snouts to dig for insects, spiders, worms and snails but they also eat birds, lizards, eggs and fruit.

Way of life

As a truly diurnal animal the coati is sociable, living in family groups of up to 25 females, which are often related to each other, and their young. A single male will only join the group during the mating period.

Social behaviour and reproduction

During the mating season from January to March, the males, which live alone for the rest of the year, compete with each other for the groups of females. The aggressive fights often end in serious wounds. The female gives birth to two to seven cubs after a gestation period of around 70 days, suckling them for just under five months.

Status

Whilst there are still numerous white-nosed and South American coatis within their distribution areas, the mountain coati is very rare. It is now a protected species in Colombia.