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Tea Coatimundi (Nasua narica)
This is Tea, a female Mountain Coatimundi, also known as Coati (kuh-wah-tee). There are five known species of Coatimundi: South American (Nasua nasua), Brown or White Nosed (Nasua narica), Nelson (Nasua nelsoni), Wedels (Nasua wedeli), and Mountain (Nasuella olivacea). She was born in April 2007 and will be a companion to our White Nosed Coatimundi Nina. Coatis can be tough animals, and when training them, they are more cooperative when they can trade with you rather than having things taken away. Our coatis will be part of our educational programs as ambassadors of their species.
Coatis are found from the Southwestern United States to Northern Argentina. They are quite adaptable, and have moved into many habitat types. Most coatis live in the moist forests of Central and South America.
Coatis are excellent climbers but spend most of their time on the ground foraging for food. They eat almost anything including insects, snails, small reptiles and mammals, fruit, vegetables and nuts.
A Coatimundi is often confused with a raccoon because of the rings on its tail. While Nina and Tea are not raccoons, they are from the same family, Procyonidae. Coatis have the same foot structure, with bare soles, and powerful long from claws. They also walk on the soles of their feet, called plantigrade, like humans. Their coloration varies considerably, from cinnamon-buff to black, and changes with each successive molt. As a normal coloration, Mountain Coatimundis are grizzled light and dark brown, with a distinctive mask defined by white marks above, below and behind the eyes and white hair on the snout behind the black nose. White Nose Coatimundis are a reddish color with more white on their nose. In the wild, Coatis are awake during the day (diurnal) and spend the nights nesting in trees. They will often sleep balanced in the fork of a tree. Females will hunt in large groups of up to 30 individuals. Males remain solitary until breeding season.
Coutamundi Statistics:
| Body Length | 13-27 inches |
| Tail | 13-27 inches |
| Weight | 7-15 pounds |
| Gestation Period | 75 days |
| Litter Size: | 2-6 |
| Status | Not Endangered |
