# 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. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Coatimundi ![South American Coati](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coati_roux_Amiens_4.jpg&width=800) Photo: Vassil, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coati_roux_Amiens_4.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Procyonidae - **Genus:** Nasua ## 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 - **Super Sniffer-Digger:** South American Coati can swivel its long, flexible snout to sniff out and dig up hidden prey underground, helping them find food. - **Clever Paws:** South American Coati can use their strong, semi-retractile claws and flexible front paws to manipulate objects, helping them forage. - **Tree Descender:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — Harpy eagles are powerful avian predators that hunt coatis. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 ### How does South American Coati hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Greifswald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-greifswald) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Zoo - [Tiergarten Halberstadt](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-halberstadt) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Caracol State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/caracol-state-park) — BR · Park - [Ibitipoca State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ibitipoca-state-park) — BR · Park - [Tijuca National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tijuca-national-park) — BR · Park - [Utinga Camillo Vianna State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/utinga-camillo-vianna-state-park) — BR · Park [View all places to see South American Coati](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/south-american-coati) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [South American Coati: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/south-american-coati)