Crawford, Chris, Claire and Catherine

Coatis have long, pointed muzzles, and long, bushy, ringed tails, and brownish fur.

Habitat:

Coatis prefer forest edges in the warmer parts of South America, and up to 2,500m up the Andes.

Build:

They have strong claws and legs for climbing and can reverse their ankles for climbing down trees head-first. Their long tails are used for balance. They have thick fur for insulation from heat as well as for warmth.

Diet:

They are omnivorous, mainly eating fruit, seeds and insects but they also eat carrion (dead things), small birds and mammals.

Breeding:

Males tend to stay in a home area (philopatric), but females and their young disperse in large groups. The males will join loosely organised 'bands' (groups) for mating all at the same time, but will leave the females who will build nests and have their young after 74-77 days gestation. Young are altricial (born blind and in need of care), but can climb by 26 days and eat solid food by 4 months. Females are mature at 2 years, males at 3 years.

Age:

In the wild coatis live for 7-8 years, but in captivity can live for 16-18 years.

Value to humans:

They are sometimes killed for food, but are usually viewed as a nuisance for killing small farm animals and causing damage and eating crops and eggs.