ANIMAL: White-Nosed Coati Nasua narica Type of Animal: Raccoon Habitat: Woodlands/forests of all types, woody canyons, savanna, grassland, desert, scrub forest Location(s): From S.E. Arizona & New Mexico south to N.W. Colombia. Appearance: Males larger than females, striped tail, brownish-grayish coloration w/ white nose, fairly pointy ears, long nose. Food/Diet: Beetles, termites, ants, grubs, centipedes, spiders, scorpions, earthworms, snails, eggs, frogs, rodents, birds, tamarins, marmosets, lizards, snakes, carrion, nuts, fruit, leaves, young crocodilians, young tortoises Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos & wildlife parks. Lifestyle: Females along w/ offspring up to age of 2 live in bands of 15-30 animals. Males solitary. Additional Info: Called: Male-Boar Female-Sow Young-Kit Group-Band Weight: Male-10-15 lbs Female-8 lbs Young-0.75-1 lb Gestation: 6 months Height: 1.16 ft Body Length: Male-3.74 ft Female-3.37 ft Life Span: 8-14 years Tail Length: Male-1.87 ft Female-1.68 ft Main predators are felids, raptors, large snakes, crocodilians, domestic/feral dogs, bush dogs, & coyotes. Tayras, capuchins, large venomous snakes, & male coatis prey on kits. Males engage in deadly fights during breeding season. Each female gives birth to 2-7 young. They have a very good sense of smell. They have prehensile tail used for hanging from trees. Females are often very vocal in their group. Ankles double-jointed & very flexible. Seen as beneficial keeping rodent & insect populations in check. They’re also seen as crop pests. Sometimes hunted for meat by natives. Sexually mature at 2 years old. Tail used for communication. They often dip noses into areas w/ good smells. Fun Fact(s): Sometimes called a “hog-nosed coon”. They’re very destructive animals & require strong caging. Colloquial name “coatimundi” refers to the solitary males. They’re quite common in pet trade & have different kinds of temperaments from really sweet to very aggressive. Claws and teeth can cause good amount of damage.
