South American coati

The raccoon's South American cousin

The South American coati is a carnivorous mammal of the raccoon family, the Procyonidae. It has a slender, cat-sized body, an elongated, flexible snout it uses to root through the ground, and a long ringed tail it often holds upright like an antenna as it moves within the group. Its coat colour varies from reddish-brown to grey. Unlike its white-nosed northern relative, its snout is dark.

Habitat and range

It lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of South America, reaching into the southern part of Central America. It is an agile climber, equally at home in the trees and on the ground. In parts of Europe it is considered an invasive species following introductions.

Behaviour

Females and young live in noisy, close-knit bands that can number dozens of individuals; adult males tend to be solitary. It is omnivorous, feeding on fruit, invertebrates, small vertebrates and eggs, which it finds by rummaging through the leaf litter with its snout and strong-clawed forepaws.

Notable facts

The coati is naturally curious and little afraid of people, and in many tourist areas it approaches visitors in search of food. The upright tail acts as a visual signal to keep the group together in dense vegetation. In Italy and the European Union its keeping is banned precisely because of its invasive nature.

Conservation

The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and is widespread. It benefits from its adaptability and omnivorous diet, though locally it is affected by deforestation and hunting.