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Portrait of a white-nosed coati

White-nosed coati

White-nosed coatis have tails as long as their bodies, used for balancing. They spend most of the day foraging for food, keeping their long, flexible muzzle close to the ground to sniff out beetles and spiders. In this way, they can travel two kilometres each day. Nights are spent out of harm's way in the treetops of central America's forests. Come breeding time, a solitary male is invited to join a band of females. Once he has mated with them all, he is swiftly ejected, as males will harm the young. Like raccoons, white-nosed coatis readily adapt to the presence of humans.

Scientific name: Nasua narica

Rank: Species

Common names:

  • Antoon,
  • Pizote

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Habitats

The following habitats are found across the White-nosed coati distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

Conservation Status

Least Concern

  1. EX - Extinct
  2. EW
  3. CR - Threatened
  4. EN - Threatened
  5. VU - Threatened
  6. NT
  7. LC - Least concern

Population trend: Decreasing

Year assessed: 2008

Classified by: IUCN 3.1

About

The white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) is a species of coati and a member of the family Procyonidae (raccoons and relatives). Local names include Pizote, Antoon and Tejón. The last, which mainly is used in Mexico, means badger. It averages about 4–6 kg (8.8–13.2 lbs) in weight. However, males are much larger than females, and small females weigh as little as 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) and large males as much as 12.2 kg (27 lbs). On average, the total length is about 110 cm (43 in), about half of that being the tail length.

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