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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
coatimundi,
red-tailed coatimundi, ring-tailed coatimundi, white-nosed
coatimundi, coati, quash |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Carnivora |
| FAMILY: |
Procyonidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Nasua
nasua (nose) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
coati is a relative of the raccoon with a long,
pointed muzzle, a long, bushy and ringed tail, and
brown to red-brown fur. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
60 cm (2 ft.) with a 60 cm (24 in.) tail |
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| WEIGHT: |
3.5-6
kg (7.7-13 lb) |
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| DIET: |
Omnivorous:
Includes fruit, insects, frogs, lizards, and other
small animals and their eggs. |
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| GESTATION: |
Gestation
lasts approximately 77 days; 3-5 offspring |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
About
2 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
7-10
years; up to 16 years |
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| RANGE: |
Central
and South America |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
coastal mangrove forests, lowland savannas, deserts,
and interior dense tropical forest |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Appendix
III |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Coatis feed by using their long noses, poking them
under rocks and into crevices. They also use their
long claws to dig holes or tear apart rotting logs. |
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| 2. |
Coatis are often seen in large groups (called "bands")
of 15-20 individuals. When surprised, the entire
group will leap into the trees while emitting clicks
and "woofs". |
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| 3. |
These animals are diurnal, sleeping in treetop leaves
and branches during the night. They spend most of
day in search of food, grooming, and resting. |
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| 4. |
The
species is very social, living in bands of 4-25
individuals, which are usually related females and
their young. |
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| 5. |
Coatis
walk with their ringed tails held high. When climbing,
their tail is used for balance. |
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| 6. |
So
accustomed to arboreal life, coatis mate in the
trees, creating nests for their young among the
branches. The offspring stay in the nest with their
mother for 5-6 weeks before she rejoins the band. |
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| 7. |
Their
ankles are double jointed and extremely flexible,
enabling the animal to descend trees headfirst. |
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| Coatis
are an important food source for larger predators,
and in some regions, are hunted for their meat by
humans.
These
animals help control insect, reptile, and amphibian
populations as well.
However,
they are also seen as agricultural pests, damaging
farmers' crops.
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|
|
Grzimek, B. Grzimek's Encyclopedia, Mammals.
New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing, Co. 1990. |
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Belize Zoo.
http://www.belizezoo.org/zoo/zoo/mammals/coa/coa1.html |
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Santa Barbara Zoo.
http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/animals/mammals/coatimundi.html
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