The coati, sometimes called the coatimundi, is a medium-sized mammal native to a wide geographical range spanning from the southwestern United States down through Central and South America. These members of the raccoon family are recognized for their long, flexible snouts and their social, diurnal habits. The coati’s success across diverse habitats is directly linked to its designation as an adaptable and opportunistic omnivore.
The Core Diet: Invertebrates and Fruits
The foundation of the coati diet is built upon two major food groups: invertebrates and native fruits, which together account for the vast majority of their consumption. Invertebrates are a constant source of protein, making them a year-round dietary necessity. Fecal analysis has shown that insects occurred in over 75% of coati samples, highlighting their importance as a staple food item.
The coati actively forages for a variety of arthropods, including beetles, ant larvae, and spiders. Millipedes are also a significant component of the invertebrate diet, sometimes found in more than half of the samples analyzed. This consistent intake of arthropods ensures a steady supply of necessary nutrients for the animals.
Plant matter, primarily fruits, nuts, and various vegetative parts, constitutes the other major caloric pillar of their diet, sometimes occurring in over 85% of fecal samples. Coatis consume the fruits of a wide variety of species, with some studies identifying intact seeds from as many as 49 different plant species in their droppings. The consumption of these sweet, fleshy fruits makes the coati an important seed disperser within its ecosystem.
Seasonal Shifts and Opportunistic Feeding
The precise ratio of invertebrates to fruits in the coati’s diet is flexible and changes significantly based on the seasonality of its habitat. In many tropical and subtropical regions, the abundance of arthropods like spiders and millipedes is positively correlated with rainfall, meaning their consumption increases during the wet season. This shift supplies the coati with a protein surge when moisture levels are highest.
Conversely, fruit consumption often becomes more frequent during the dry season. As ground-dwelling arthropods become less available during drier months, coatis rely more heavily on the fruit species that ripen during this period to maintain their energy requirements.
The coati is opportunistic and will consume supplementary food items as they are encountered. This includes the occasional consumption of small vertebrates, such as lizards or rodents. When available, they also consume bird or reptile eggs, carrion, and readily exploit organic waste in areas with human interaction.
Specialized Foraging Techniques
The coati forages on both the forest floor and in the canopy. The long, mobile snout is the animal’s primary tool for ground-level exploration, allowing it to constantly sniff the leaf litter and crevices for hidden food. This sensitive nose is often paired with a digging action, which gives the coati its nickname of “hog-nosed raccoon.” They use their strong, non-retractable claws to rapidly excavate the soil and leaf litter to unearth buried grubs, roots, and other subsoil wildlife. They are capable of using their snouts to probe deep into logs and holes to locate insects and larvae that other animals cannot reach.
Although the majority of their foraging is terrestrial, coatis are agile climbers, capable of navigating trees to access arboreal food sources. They use their climbing ability to reach ripe fruits high in the canopy or to raid bird and reptile nests for eggs. This combination of physical adaptations ensures that coatis can efficiently exploit resources across multiple levels of their environment.