South American Coati
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Mammals
- Dietary Niche: Omnivore (Fruit, insects, eggs, small lizards, spiders)
- Max Speed: 27 km/h (17 mph)
- Adult Weight: 2 - 6 kg (4.4 - 13.2 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 7 - 14 years
- Primary Habitat: Tropical rainforests, cloud forests, woodland edges
- Native Region: South America (Colombia to Argentina)
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Procyonidae |
| Genus | Nasua |
| Species Binomial | Nasua nasua |
📖 1. Species Overview
The Coati, or Coatimundi, is a member of the raccoon family native to South American forests. Easily recognized by its long flexible snout and ringed tail held erect while walking, it is an active daytime explorer.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Features a long pointed upturned snout, dark reddish-brown fur, a long dark-ringed tail held upright, and strong clawed feet.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Females and juveniles live in bands of 10-30, while adult males are solitary. They forage on forest floors and sleep in trees.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Root through leaf litter with their snout to unearth grubs, while climbing trees to pluck fruits.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Females build tree leaf nests to give birth to 2-7 coatiling kits, rejoining the band at 6 weeks.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Least Concern, though threatened locally by habitat deforestation and hunting.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- Coatis can rotate their ankle joints more than 180 degrees, allowing them to climb down tree trunks headfirst.
- They keep their long tails pointing straight up in the air so band members can track each other in tall forest grass.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the South American Coati.
The South American Coati is scientifically classified as Nasua nasua. It belongs to the genus Nasua within the family Procyonidae, class Mammalia, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, South American Coatis inhabit Tropical rainforests, cloud forests, woodland edges. Their native geographic range primarily spans South America (Colombia to Argentina).
The South American Coati is classified as a Omnivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Tropical rainforests, cloud forests, woodland edges.
A South American Coati can achieve top speeds of 27 km/h (17 mph) and weighs approximately 2 - 6 kg (4.4 - 13.2 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 7 - 14 years.
The South American Coati (Nasua nasua) is currently designated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "South American Coati (Nasua nasua) Species Profile."
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