Coatimundi
- Any of three species of omnivore related to raccoons. Coatis are found
in wooded regions from the southwestern United States through South America.
The coati
has a long, flexible snout and a slender, darkly banded tail that it often
carries erect as it moves about. It has coarse fur that is gray to reddish or
brown with lighter underparts and light facial markings. The male coati measures
about 73 to 136 cm (29 to 54 inches) in length—half of which is tail—and weighs
roughly 4.5 to 11 kg (10 to 24 pounds). The female is somewhat smaller.
Female and
young coatis commonly live in bands of 5 to 40 and travel together. The males
are solitary and join the bands only during the short mating season of
approximately a month. The gestation period is about 77 days long, and litters
usually consist of two to six young.
Coatis are
most active during the day. Like their raccoon relatives, they are curious and
resourceful creatures and are good climbers. When foraging, they comb the trees
as well as the ground for seeds, fruits, eggs, and a wide variety of small
animals ranging from insects to mice.
