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Coati-whaties?? Coatimundi, or Coatis as they are often called, are unique creatures that are found in tropical Central (including much of Mexico) and South America, in fact the White Nosed Coatimundi actually extends the northern part of it's range into Southern Texas, and Eastern Arizona. Four recognized subspecies of Coatimundi occur in a wide range of habitats. Displaying behavior somewhere between a raccoon and a monkey, the Coati is an intelligent creature who reaches an average weight of 12-22 pounds. Males are considerably larger than females. Living in troops of up to 20 individuals these animals forage primarily during the early evening and early morning hours, making them crepuscular! The Coati spends most of the night hours nesting in trees. There is no evidence of the Coati every needing to hibernate as the warm climates the animal is found in provide reasonably warm winter weather.
One of the favorite items our Coati's love to eat is bananas! But they are quick to eat a cricket too!!
Range: The Coatimundi is found in tropical regions of South America, from Columbia and Venezuela to Uruguay, northern parts of Argentina, and into Ecuador. On the eastern and western slopes of the Andes Mountains. They also occur as far north as they are found up to 2500 meters. In the United States the Coati can be found from Eastern Arizona to the Big Bend region of Texas and extending as far south as the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Habitat: Forests and open Grasslands near water. Ring-tailed coatis
primarily live in forested areas; deciduous, evergreen, cloud forest, riverine
gallery forest, xeric, Chaco, cerrado, and dry scrub forest habitats. Due to
human influence, coatis prefer secondary forests and forest edges. They are
found up to 5,000 feet in elevation Rain Forest Facts: One captive Coatimundi was reported to still be alive after 17 years and 8 months. In the wild, coatis only live for about 7 to 8 years, disease and predation by large cats (Jaguars and Ocelots) leads to a shorter life than in captivity. Female Coatimundis give birth to 2-7 young once per year. Pregnant females will leave their group and construct a tree nest, where after a gestation period of 10-11 weeks, they give birth to a litter of 2-7 young. When the babies are 5 weeks old, they will leave the nest, and together with their mother, they will join the group. They weigh 3.5-6.5 ounces at birth, open their eyes after 11 days, are weaned at 4 months The young Coatimundi will reach adult size at approximately 15 months, and are capable of reproducing at 2 years of age. Natural Diet: Omnivorous, the Coatimundi will eat virtually anything a Raccoon will eat! The diet of the Coatimundi is assumed to be as varied as their habitat, and seasonal availability of food within each habitat. Diet at Rain Forest: Prepared feline diet with fresh fruits and Monkey biscuits. Bananas are a favorite of our Coati's at Rainforest Adventures. Our zoo raised coati's also enjoy eating cooked meat of virtually all types including beef, chicken and pork. Size: 12-22 Pounds, some size difference between sub species with males growing larger than females. Status in Wild: Not Threatened, expatriated from certain parts of it's range including parts of the Southern United States. Numbers are stable in other parts of their range. |
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Our three little Coatimundi arrived from a zoo in central Texas after being born
during mid-August of 2004. A fourth Female Coatimundi was introduced
to the group in late 2004. 
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Fruit and vegetable production areas for human consumption are often raided by
troops of Coati.