Coati Mundi

For the Kid Creole & the Coconuts member, see Coati Mundi.

Ring-tailed coati
File:Coati002.jpg
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Procyonidae
Genus:	Nasua
Species:	N. nasua
Binomial name
Nasua nasua (linnaeus, 1766)

The Coatimundi (kwo-ah-tee-moon-dee) or hog-nosed coon is a member of the raccoon family (procyonidae); a diurnal mammal native to South, Central and south-western North America. Coatimundi derives from the animal's indian name in Guaraní-language meaning "lone-coati".

Identification

The Coati is a mammal similar to the raccoon, but the species has a characteristic, long snout and bear-like paws. Coatimundis have a reddish, brown or dark coat, depending on species, with a lighter under-part and a white-ringed tail in most cases. All coatis share a slender head with an elongated, slightly upward-turned nose, small ears, dark feet and a long, non-prehensile tail used for balance and signalling. Adults measure 41 to 67 cm from head to the base of the tail, which will add 30 to 60 cm to their length. Coatis are about 30 cm tall at the shoulder, and weigh between 3 and 8 kg, about the size of a large housecat. Males can become almost twice as large as females and have large and sharp canine teeth. They are intelligent small bears with strong limbs to climb and dig. Coatis walk on the soles of their feet e.g. like the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), but contrary to their much bigger relatives, coatis typically descend trees headfirst thanks to a double jointed and flexible ankle. They prefer to sleep or rest in elevated places and niches, e.g. the rainforest canopy, respiting in crudely-built sleeping nests.

Habitat and range

The Coati or Coatimundi is a widespread species living in habitats ranging from hot and arid areas to humid Amazonian rainforests or cold Andean mountain slopes. The following species have been scientifically described:

South American Coati (Nasua Nasua)

Brown- or White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica)

Nelson's Coati (Nasua nelsoni)

Wedel's Coati (Nasua wedeli)

Mountain or Andean Coati (Nasuella olivacea)

The coatimundi species cited above have different geographical occurences and can be told apart by their size, their build, their voice and most distinctively their hide's colour.

Lifespan

In the wild, coatis live for about 7 to 8 years.

In captivity coatis can live up to 15 years.

Feeding habits

The coatimundi is an omnivore; its diet consists of fruits, nuts, leaves, roots, insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles, eggs, small birds or mammals and even carrion, which it finds or catches on the ground or on trees. The snout, with a formidable sense of smell, assists the skilled paws in a hog-like manner to unearth insects and roots. When it can't find any food it usally its its on droppings.

Behaviour

Coatimundi females and young males up to 2 years are gregarious and travel trough their territories in noisy, loosely organized bands made up of 4-25 individuals, foraging with their offspring on the ground or in the forest's canopy. Males over 2 years become solitary due to behavioural disposition and collective aggression from the females, and will join the female groups only during the breeding season.

When provoked or for defence, coatis are fierce fighters: Their strong jaws, sharp canine teeth and fast scratching paws, along with a tough hide, sturdily attached to the underlying muscles, make it very difficult for the predator (e.g. dogs, jaguars) to seize the small mammal.

The coati communicates its intentions or mood with chirping, snorting or grunting sounds. Different chirping sounds are used to express joy during social grooming, appeasement after fights or to convey irritation or anger. Snorting while digging, along with an erect tail, states territorial or food claims during foraging. Coatis additionally use special postures or moves to convey simple messages, e.g. hiding the nose between the front paws as a sign for submission or lowering the head, baring teeth plus short attack jumps to signal an aggressive disposition. Individuals recognize themselves by their looks, voices and smells, the individual smell is intensified by special musk-glands on their necks and bellies.

Reproduction

The coati's breeding season varies according to location and mainly corresponds with the start of the rainy season to coincide with maximum availability of food, especially fruits: Between January and March in some areas, and between October and February in others. During the breeding season, an adult male is accepted into the band of females and juveniles near the beginning of the breeding season, leading to a polygynous mating system. The pregnant females separate from the group, build a nest on tree or in a rocky niche and, after a gestation period of about 11 weeks, give birth to litters of 3 to 7 young. About six weeks after birth, the females and their young will rejoin the band. Females become sexually mature at 2 years of age, males will acquire sexual maturity at 3 years of age.

Natural enemies

Jaguarundis,foxes, tayras, ocelots, jaguars, hawks, eagles, man

Status

Although the coatimundi faces unregulated hunting and the serious threat of environmental destruction in Central and South America, this mammal is officially not considered to be an endangered species.

The absence of scientifically sound population studies of Nasua or Nasuella in the wild is probably leading to a severe underestimation of the ecological problems and decline in numbers affecting the species in South America.

Coatimundis in captivity

Coatimundis are not domesticated animals and are therefore NOT recommended as house pets for most people. This small bear is wild, very difficult to control or train and generally behaves radically different from a lap-dog.

Coatis are small, curious and intelligent mammals, which are considered interesting, fun and endearing by their daring owners most of the time. However coatimundis are naturally prone to mischief and can be very destructive in a household or garden without constant supervision. Apart from a big cage, the presence of a spacious garden should be imperative for the good keeping of a coatimundi; excursions into the owner's house or garden must ideally be the animal's daily routine to allow for exercise, climbing and digging. Strict cage or room captivity is not to be considered an option. Declawing or removing the canine teeth is not recommended and superfluous under good keeping conditions.

The coatimundi is a very social animal and will require a lot of attention from its owner. In their natural habitat infant coatis sleep close to their mothers in order to avoid becoming easy prey for predators. Selective pressure has consequently created a very strong innate attachment of the young to their mother. Hence young coatis under the age of 6 months are especially demanding and will suffer without an assuring maternal presence during day and night time; abandoning the infant coati alone in a cage at night time is a cruel conduct and should be strictly avoided. However guarding the young coatimundi during the daytime or sleeping next to it at night, is not without problems and involves hygienic issues as well.

Contrary to dogs and cats, coatis have not been bred to blindly accept authority. They are naturally selfish and will more often than not ignore their owner's authority or commands. Coatimundi training is a difficult task. The small mammals will moreover try to constantly improve their hierarchical status in the household, which implies aggressive confrontations. This can pose serious problems for a family with small children. Strangers will not be accepted easily, neighbours are likely to face similar problems.

Although male coatis have impressive canine teeth they tend to be less irritable and aggressive than females, which can become exceedingly difficult to handle during their breeding season. With age and good keeping most coatis become friendlier.

Broken dishes, stolen food, urine stains on the carpet, faeces behind the sofa, minor or even serious lesions ( e.g. bitten hands or scratches on the owner's face) are typical accidents when keeping a tame coatimundi at home. A sturdy pair of leather gloves is a good protection in the case of interest conflicts between bear and man.

Strong scenting chemicals like wood tarnish, oil paints, soaps, thinner, acetone, diesel, etc. must be kept out of reach. These scents attract tame coatis, which then try to perfume their tails with the chemicals, putting the animal in danger of critical intoxication.

Although coatis are territorial to a certain degree, the risk of the animal leaving the owner's property is high due to its curiosity, predatory interests and agility. This behaviour can result in very serious fights with the neighbourhood pets and lead to severe disagreements with their respective owners. The risk of the coati being overrun by a car on nearby roads must be kept in mind as well.

Feeding the coatimundi:

Being omnivores, coatis accept a varied diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, eggs, roots, nuts, meat. Avocado, carrots, bananas, oranges, papaya and pineapple have proven to be healthy, but bread, cheese, bits of bacon or steak, poultry or other human food are equally welcome. Sweets like chocolate or spicy treats like dinner-mints are highly appreciated by coatis, but should not be given on a daily basis but rather as special rewards, e.g. if the coati has returned to its cage on its own. Coffee or Coca Cola should not be encouraged, but accidental small amounts of caffeine-containing beverages are of no critical consequence. Alcohol and abuse of sugar or fatty food should be avoided.

Very young coatimundis find it difficult to drink liquids (e.g. water-diluted milk) from a bowl, because coordination of raising their snout above water level and dipping the tongue into the liquid at the same time is acquired several weeks after birth. Bottle-feeding is therefore crucial when a natural mother is absent.

Trivia

In 2005, one or more coati were believed to be roaming wild in areas of the southern Lakeland in Cumbria, United Kingdom. One was caught in a hen hut, having eaten several of the pullets and was taken to the wildlife park in Dalton-in-Furness.

In the book "Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy" (Robert Jourdain, 1997, ISBN 0-688-14236-2), the word "coatimundi" is used as an example of something meaningless to those who do not know what one is.

References

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