Types Of Coati, A Very Friendly Mammal

The different types of coati stand out for their ability to climb trees, as well as because they do not shy away from contact with human beings.

Types of raccoon, a very friendly mammal

With an elongated nose and a large striped tail, the coati is a mammal originating from the American continent, which was introduced into Spain and became an invader.

An interesting feature is that he is not afraid of contact with humans. In this article we are going to talk about the types of coatis and their main characteristics.

South American loop-tailed coati

It lives in the jungles of the subcontinent and is characterized by its long snout and strong claws like a bear. The fur of this coati is black or brown. Its belly, however, is lighter, its legs are dark and its tail has white “rings”.

The adult specimens measure about 70 centimeters and have more than 60 of tails. In addition, they can weigh four kilos and males are twice as large and heavier than females.

The coati walks fully supported on the soles of its feet (it is plantigrade, like us), being able to climb and descend from trees due to its flexible joints.

Females and juveniles are grouped into ‘families’ of about 20 individuals. On the other hand, males are solitary and remain separate from others. All sleep in nests that “build” with branches and leaves in the treetops.

Despite being always on the alert, the South American ring-tailed raccoon leads a quiet and curious life. Thus, he loves sniffing and getting to know urban areas, and he even tends to steal things from gardens.

white-nosed coati

The last on the list of coatis has a more limited distribution as it is found in the southern United States, Mexico and Central America. More specifically, it inhabits dry or humid forests.

The white-nosed raccoon is omnivorous and, although it prefers small vertebrates (which it captures in the ground), it also feeds on insects, carrion, fruits and eggs. Like his South American relative, he is very good at climbing trees.

However, in this case, he has the help of his prehensile tail, which allows him to swing between the branches, like some primates.

The main predators of this raccoon are cats, birds of prey and boa constrictors. With daytime habits, it adapts to human presence and it is common to see them looting garbage containers in the campsites.

The breeding season is between February and March, and the female has up to seven offspring after a gestation of two and a half months.

Puppies are completely dependent on their mother as they are blind for the first few weeks. Up to two years old, they live with their mother and, after this period, the males are expelled from the group.

The raccoon as an invasive species

The raccoon is not a suitable animal for domestic living, although many believe it is an excellent pet due to its affable and friendly nature.

Its natural habitat is the jungles of America. In Spain, where it was introduced, it causes several problems for the environment.

This is because it alters the availability of food for other species, prey to birds or animals that may be threatened.

In addition, the habits of these types of coati cause damage to gardens and crops, especially herbs. Finally, it also transmits diseases to humans, such as toxoplasmosis and Chagas disease.