Mammals · Procyonidae

Coatis

Nasua / Nasuella (genus)

Least Concern

Coatis are also known as Brazilian aardvarks, Mexican tejón, hog-nosed coons, pizotes, crackoons, and snookum bears. Coatis are members of the raccoon family. All coatis share a slender head with an elongated, flexible, slightly upward-turned nose, small ears, dark feet, and a long, non-prehensile tail used for balance and signaling.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Procyonidae

Genus: Nasua and Nasuella

Other names: Brazilian Aardvark, Mexican Tejón, Hog-nosed Coon, Pizotes, Panamanian Gatosolo, Crackoons, Coati Mundi, Coatimundi, Quashand, Snookum Bears

Size

13-27 inches from nose to tip of tail, about 12 inches at the shoulder. Weigh 4.4-18 lbs; males can be up to twice the weight of females.

Habitat

Arizona, New Mexico, Central America, the Amazon rainforest, Argentina, and Uruguay. Live in woodlands, desert grasslands, and forests.

Description

Built like raccoons, but with slenderer bodies. Long, non-prehensile tail used for balance and signaling. Long, protruding snouts and large, sharp canine teeth.

Behavior

Active during the day (diurnal) and arboreal.

Diet

Insects and fruit, occasionally mice, frogs, lizards, rodents, small birds, birds’ eggs, and even crocodile eggs. Use their long noses to locate food and their claws to dig it up.

Communication

Chirping, snorting, and grunting sounds.

Gestation

10-11 weeks.

Birth

Litters of 2-7. Born blind and stay that way for about 12 days; weaned at around 4 months.

Sexually Mature

Around 2 years of age.

Life Span

7-8 years in the wild; up to 15 years in captivity.

Social Structure

Females and young males live together in bands of up to 20; adult males are typically solitary.