Brown-nosed Coati

The South American coati, also known as the ring-tailed coati, is a captivating member of the raccoon family that thrives in the tropical and subtropical regions of South America. Locally, it is often called "quati" in Brazilian Portuguese. These coatis typically weigh between 2 to 7.2 kg and can grow to a length of 85-113 cm, with their distinctive tails accounting for about half of that length. One of their standout features is their tail rings, which distinguish them from their northern relatives, the white-nosed coatis.

You can find these coatis in a wide range of habitats, from the lowland forests east of the Andes to elevations of 2,500 meters. Their territory extends from Colombia and The Guianas down to Uruguay and northern Argentina. They have also been observed in parts of Ecuador and Colombia, as well as various provinces in Argentina. Interestingly, the white-nosed coati is predominantly found in northwestern Colombia near the Panama border.

South American coatis are diurnal and are equally adept on the ground and in trees. They have an omnivorous diet, consuming fruits, invertebrates, small animals, and bird eggs. Females typically form large social groups known as bands, while males usually prefer a solitary lifestyle. These coatis communicate through soft whining sounds and use louder barks and clicks as alarm calls. They have a range of predators, including foxes, jaguars, and humans.

When it comes to breeding, all the females in a group enter estrus simultaneously and mate with several males. The gestation period lasts about 74 to 77 days, and in captivity, females can give birth to anywhere from 1 to 7 offspring. In the wild, females leave their group to give birth in tree nests and return with their young after about 5-6 weeks. Young males typically leave their birth group around the age of three. In the wild, these coatis can live up to 7 years, whereas in captivity, they can live up to 14 years.

The scientific classification of the South American coati began with Carl Linnaeus in 1766, who named it Viverra nasua. It was later placed in the genus Nasua. As of 2005, there are 13 recognized subspecies of the South American coati.