Chester Zoo 

Coati

Related to a racoon, these creatures have distinctively long snouts and bear-like paws. There are three species of coati, the South American Coati (Nasua nasua), Brown or White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica) and the Mountain or Andean Coati (Nasuella olivacea). Their size and appearance depends on their different locations, but generally they are of a similar size to a large housecat, but with extremely long yellow-ringed tails, which can be as long as their body. The tail is often held upright as they move along and is used for balance, signalling and communicating. All Coatis have small heads and a slightly upturned nose, small ears with white tufts on the inside. They are generally a brownish colour, sometimes a rusty red, with white undersides and dark feet. Females are smaller than males.
They are fierce fighters with strong limbs, powerful jaws, sharp, canine teeth and tough hides. Coatis walk on the soles of their feet, but are also good climbers and sleep in nests built at high levels in trees.

They have a keen sense of smell which they use to forage for food and they can often be seen hanging upside down from tree branches while eating. They are also good swimmers.

Coatis communicate through a wide-ranging series of calls, chirps, snorts and grunting noises, as well as through different bodily postures, often involving the tail. They also give off distinctive smells through a ‘musk gland’.

What they eat

Insects, plants, fruit, nuts, along with small prey like lizards, rodents, snails, small birds.

How long they live

In the wild they live about eight years, but in captivity they have been recorded to live up to 14 years.

Biology

Coatis are polygamous creatures, with a breeding season which coincides with the start of the rainy season when food supplies are at their most abundant. An adult male will breed with a group of females and the pregnant females then separate from the group to build nests, giving birth to a litter of three to seven young after a gestation period of just under three months. They will rejoin the main group when the cubs have gained strength and are about six weeks old.

Females are sexually mature at about two years old and males at three. Male Coatis which haven’t reached sexual maturity will often travel together in groups of up to 25, roaming through the forest in search of food. Older males are more solitary, only joining groups of females in the breeding season. Females and their young live in groups of five to 30. The young are totally dependent on their mothers at birth, not being able to stand until about three weeks old. They can walk and climb after a month and are weaned at about four months old.

Did you know?

Coatis can descend from trees headfirst, thanks to a double-jointed, flexible ankle, which increases their agility.