White Nosed Coati
Nasua narica
ICUN Status: Least Concern *Population Decreasing*
Video from Paso Pacifico on Instagram
Why is My Population Decreasing?
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- My habitat is being destroyed for farming and housing.
- I dig for bugs, and accidentally ruin farmers’ crops this way, they see me as a pest and will trap me for sale or kill me.
- I’m hunted for my meat and fur – some people even think I’m an aphrodisiac!
- I’m trapped and sold in the Exotic pet-trade
- Once tourists feed me, I become dependent on humans and frequently go to populated areas- – This is dangerous for me.
- I don’t know road rules, and sometimes I’m hit by cars.
About Me
My fur is a mix of brown, black, white and orange. As my name suggests, my nose is white with a black mask around my eyes and head.
- I am also known as the Pizote and Pizote Solo.
- From nose to bottom, I can reach up to 60cm in length.
- My tail can reach up to another 60cm long.
- I typically weigh between 3-8kg.
- My average lifespan is 7-8 years in the wild & 10-17 years in specialized human care facilities
- We communicate to each other through various squeaks, squeals and grunts (we sound like we’ve swallowed a chew toy)
Habitat
The habitat of the White Nosed Coati range from South Eastern Arizona through to Central America, Mexico, Western Colombia and Ecuador.
They will occupy several types of habitats, training from tropical lowlands to dry and high altitude forests.
Diet
Similar to their direct relatives Brown Nosed Coatis, White Nosed Coatis are opportunistic feeders. They will eat whatever is available, depending on the season.
They show main feeding interests to a variety of fruits, invertebrates, rodents and smaller reptiles. Including spiders, crabs, millipedes, lizards, snakes and eggs.
Fun fact: They roll tarantulas in the dirt to remove all the venomous hairs before eating them.
Family Life
Coatimundis live in groups, called bands. Once pregnant, females will leave the band and build their own nest. The gestation period (between conception and birth) for Coatis to have their babies, known as kittens, is 3 months. Male adult Coatis are solitary and tolerated only during the mating season.
Females will often have 2-7 kittens, nesting in trees, and re-join the band after the kittens are 6 weeks old.
Fun Fact: Female Coatis act as a sisterhood, raising all the kittens together!
- Habitat
-
Habitat
The habitat of the White Nosed Coati range from South Eastern Arizona through to Central America, Mexico, Western Colombia and Ecuador.
They will occupy several types of habitats, training from tropical lowlands to dry and high altitude forests.
- Diet
-
Diet
Similar to their direct relatives Brown Nosed Coatis, White Nosed Coatis are opportunistic feeders. They will eat whatever is available, depending on the season.
They show main feeding interests to a variety of fruits, invertebrates, rodents and smaller reptiles. Including spiders, crabs, millipedes, lizards, snakes and eggs.
Fun fact: They roll tarantulas in the dirt to remove all the venomous hairs before eating them.
- Family Life
-
Family Life
Coatimundis live in groups, called bands. Once pregnant, females will leave the band and build their own nest. The gestation period (between conception and birth) for Coatis to have their babies, known as kittens, is 3 months. Male adult Coatis are solitary and tolerated only during the mating season.
Females will often have 2-7 kittens, nesting in trees, and re-join the band after the kittens are 6 weeks old.
Fun Fact: Female Coatis act as a sisterhood, raising all the kittens together!
