South American Coati

Nasua nasua

South American Coatis are playful animals that love to explore! They have long tails and a curious nature, often seen climbing trees and searching for food.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The South American Coati has a slender body covered in reddish-brown to dark brown fur, often with lighter undersides. Its most distinctive features are a long, flexible, upturned snout and a bushy tail banded with light and dark rings. Small, rounded ears peek out from its head.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderCarnivoraFamilyProcyonidaeGenusNasua

Photo: VassilPublic domain · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

South American Coati

Interesting facts

A coati's bushy tail, nearly body-length, is often held high like a flag!

Coatis use their extra-long, flexible snout to poke into crevices for yummy bugs!

Female coatis live in large 'bands', while males live alone!

They are fantastic sunbathers, sometimes sprawling out on tree branches to catch rays!

Special abilities

South American Coati can swivel its long, flexible snout to sniff out and dig up hidden prey underground, helping them find food.

South American Coati can use their strong, semi-retractile claws and flexible front paws to manipulate objects, helping them forage.

South American Coati has ankles that rotate 180 degrees, letting them climb down trees head-first with incredible agility.

Measurements & details

Length: 80-130 cm
Weight: 2-8 kg
Lifespan: 7-8 years
Speed: 25 km/h
Litter Size: 2-7
Gestation: 77 days

Diet & Feeding

Coatis eat a mix of insects, fruits, and small animals found by their amazing sense of smell.

Primary Foods

Insects
Fruits
Spiders
Small rodents
Bird eggs

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Jaguar

Panthera onca

A primary predator of coatis in their range.

Eaten by

Puma

Puma concolor

Coatis are prey for pumas, especially juveniles.

Eaten by

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Harpy eagles are powerful avian predators that hunt coatis.

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Omnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

Arboreal

Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Also known as

Coatimundi

Collections

Mammals

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Watch from a distance and don't try to touch them, as they can be wild.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify South American Coati?

Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is South American Coati?

80-130 cm

How much does South American Coati weigh?

2-8 kg

How long does South American Coati live?

7-8 years

How fast can South American Coati move?

25 km/h

What does South American Coati eat?

Coatis eat a mix of insects, fruits, and small animals found by their amazing sense of smell.

Where is South American Coati usually found?

Forests