Facts about Coati
The coati is also known as the hog-nosed coon, snookum bear and the Brazilian Aardvark. It is native to South, Central, and south-western North America. The coati snout is long and somewhat pig-like and extremely flexible and can be rotated up to 60 degrees in any direction, the former being part of the reason for its nickname the hog-nosed raccoon. The nose is utilized to push objects and rub parts of their body. Adult coatis measure 33 to 69 cm (13 to 27 inches) from head to the base of the tail, which can be as long as their bodies. In the wild, coatis live for about 7 to 8 years, while in captivity they can live for up to 15 years. They are about 30 cm (12 inches) tall at the shoulder. The coati is an omnivore; its diet consists mainly of ground litter invertebrates and fruit. They also eat small vertebrate prey, such as lizards, rodents, small birds, and bird's eggs. The snout, with a formidable sense of smell, assists the skilled paws in a hog-like manner to unearth invertebrates. Coatis can weigh between 3 and 8 kg (between 6 and 18 pounds), about the size of a large housecat. Male coatis can become almost twice as large as females. Their natural enemies include jaguarundis, foxes, tayras, ocelots, jaguars, hawks, eagles, and humans. |
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