Coatimundi are mammals recognized for their distinctive elongated snouts and long, often ringed tails. They are members of the Procyonidae family, which also includes raccoons.
Global Presence
Coatimundi are found across North, Central, and South America. Their distribution stretches from the southwestern United States, through Mexico and Central America, and extends into various regions of South America, reaching as far south as Uruguay and northern Argentina. In North America, the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) is found in areas like Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, though it is considered rare in the United States.
Coatimundi are distributed throughout Mexico and Central American countries, including Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama. In South America, species like the South American coati (Nasua nasua) range from Colombia and Venezuela down to Argentina and Uruguay. Two mountain coati species, Nasuella olivacea and Nasuella meridensis, are found in the Andes mountain ranges of western Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru.
Specific Environments
Coatimundi occupy a variety of environments. They primarily prefer tropical and subtropical forests, including lowland rain forests, dry forests, and cloud forests. These animals also thrive in woodlands, savannas, and mountainous regions, with some species found at altitudes exceeding 9,800 feet in Andean forests and high páramos.
Their preferred habitats feature dense vegetation, which provides cover and foraging opportunities. Access to water sources, such as riparian areas and canyons, is a common characteristic of their dwelling places. Coatimundi utilize both arboreal (tree-dwelling) and terrestrial (ground-dwelling) spaces within these environments. They are rarely observed in open grasslands or true deserts.
Life in Their Habitat
Coatimundi exhibit physical and behavioral traits suited to their natural settings. Their long, highly mobile snouts, often described as pig-like, are well-suited for foraging, allowing them to probe under rocks, into crevices, and through leaf litter to find food. Strong, non-retractable claws on their forefeet are used for digging out grubs, insects, and small vertebrates from logs and burrows.
Their long, semi-prehensile tails, which can be as long as their body, serve as a balancing tool, particularly when climbing trees or navigating dense vegetation. Coatimundi possess double-jointed ankles that can rotate 180 degrees, allowing them to descend trees headfirst with ease, a trait that assists in evading predators. These animals are omnivorous, consuming a diverse diet of fruits, invertebrates, small mammals, lizards, and bird eggs, which they forage for both on the ground and in the forest canopy. Females and their young typically live in social groups called “bands,” while adult males are largely solitary, joining the groups primarily during breeding season.