South American coati (Coati) – Nasua nasua

The coatis (Nasua) are procyonids found in Central and Middle America. Their genus includes two or three different species, of which the South American coati, also known as the ring-tailed coati (Nasua nasua) is included on the List of invasive alien species of Union concern.

The South American coati is a species that favours wooded habitats and is present in a wide range of forests from evergreen rain forests to dry scrub forests. The species has been found at altitudes as high as 2,500 m. Although the species is fairly well adapted to living in the vicinity of human activities, the current worldwide population is thought to be slightly declining, due to habitat loss and hunting.

The species is mainly active in the daytime and spends most of its active time foraging. Coatis sleep in trees at night. They are skilful swimmers and climbers. The species is omnivorous and the bulk of its diet consists of fruit and invertebrates. The species also feeds on vertebrates (including eggs, rodents, small mammals) and carrion whenever available. The young are born when important fruit ripen and the rainy season begins, because at that time spiders and millipedes, which play a key role in the species’ diet, are abundant.

Adult males are solitary but the females and young males live in groups of up to 30 individuals. During the breeding season, one adult male is accepted by a band of females, and all females of reproductive age mate with this one male. The timing of the breeding season varies by area of occurrence. Females build a nest in a tree, giving birth to three to seven (average four), blind young after a gestation period of 74 to 77 days. Six weeks after birth, the females and young rejoin the group. The young are weaned at the age of four months. Females are sexually mature at the age of two, and males at three years of age. Coatis are known to have reached an age of 17 years in captivity, but in the wild their average life expectancy is around 7 or 8 years.