A member of the raccoon family, the coatis resemblance to teddy bears, comical trunk like nose, and intelligent inquisitiveness make it a firm favorite among wildlife enthusiasts.
Forever busy, the coati is most often found snuffling among the leaf litter in an effort to exhume bugs and grubs, spiders and slugs. If it squirms, its on the coastis menu! But startle these gregarious animals and they will take to the trees in a flash. As agile as monkeys, coatis are equally at home in the canopy as the forest floor.
Coatis
Omnivorous creatures, coatis will eat almost anything they can get their twitching little noses into. Insects, lizards, baby birds, fruit, eggs and tourists sandwiches are all favorite treats.
Like the North American raccoon, coatis are extremely adaptable critters. Their geographical range spans from the southern United States all the way down to northern Argentina.
In Costa Rica you can find them in almost every type of habitat, from the steamy Osa jungles to the swampy Caribbean mangroves. They have not yet moved into San José, but perhaps that just a matter of time.
Female coatis area extremely sociable animals, living in extended family groups of sisters, mothers, grannies and children. All adult males, however, are excluded from this society and must live alone.
During mating season, though, the all-girl band will permit some adult males to approach, but it is a tentative welcome and they must work very hard to win the ladies approval.
If the male fails to impress through a repertoire of submissive groveling, hair nibbling and elaborate grooming techniques he will be scolded, beaten and expelled. He may be twice their size, but that does not help against a clan of 25.
Sexism makes sense in coati society. Males can be bullish brutes and will, if afforded the opportunity, kill offspring that they did not sire themselves.
An adult coati as many predators to worry about. Boa constrictors, big cats, crocodiles and coyotes all consider them delicious. And tiny, bite- sized baby coatis have even more problems. White - faced capuchin monkeys are a coatis worst enemy and will think nothing of eating an entire brood of babies in a single sitting.
Amother coati will take on any foe that targets her offspring. With the ferociousness of a rabid pit bull, she will defend her brood with tooth and claw. So if you are lucky enough to see this arboreal teddy bear, with its funny nose and fluffy tail, keep in mind what a brave little creature it really is!.
