White-nosed coati

Bob: Male, born June 14, 2002 at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Arrived at the Zoo on April 17, 2003. Identifiable by a bright white mask.

Goldie: Female, born June 14, 2002 at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Arrived at the Zoo on April 17, 2003. Identifiable by a golden crest.

Spiderman: Male, born June 14, 2002 at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Arrived at the Zoo on April 17, 2003. Identifiable by a dark mask.

These three coatis are siblings from the same litter.

Viewing Hints

Look below the rocky outcroppings or up high on the branches.

Where to find me in the Zoo

Carnivore Kingdom

Fun Facts

• Bands of coatis are made up of females and males up to 2 years of age. Males that are over 2 years old become solitary, except during mating season.
• The coatis at the Philadelphia Zoo love the smell of peppermint. As enrichment, they are given peppermint extract which they rub into their body and groom themselves.

Ask an Expert

The white-nosed coati is also referred to as coati mundi. In Belize they have a local name "Quash".  

Longevity

White-nosed coati typically live into their teens in zoological settings. In the wild they may live between 5-10 years.

Reproduction

Coatis are considered non-seasonal breeders, however many accounts have them breeding between April and June. Gestation is typically 10-11 weeks. A female may emerge from the nest with her young within 5 weeks after birth. The coati may produce a litter of 2-7 offspring. The young weigh only 3.5 to 6.3 ounces (100-180 g) at birth.

Behavior

A typical day would find a coati foraging and walking up to 1.5 miles (2000 meters) a day in search of food. Coatis will climb trees however they spend much of their time on the ground. When startled the coati will climb to the tree tops for safety. They have been observed climbing as high as 98 feet (30 meters). They are a diurnal species, which means they are active during the day.

Size

Their head and body measure 1.3-2.3ft (400-700mm) and their shoulder height is measured at about 1 ft (300mm). The tail alone can measure 1-2.3ft (300-700mm). They are similar in size to a raccoon.

Weight

9-13 pounds (4-6 kg).

Diet

The coati is an omnivore consuming mainly fruits and insects in the wild, but they also enjoy a variety of small vertebrates and eggs. At the Zoo the coati receive a base diet of a commercial raw meat mix. The meat mix provides the majority of the nutrients the animals require. The enrichment portion of the diet includes a variety of insects, fruit, eggs and rodents offered on a rotation through the week. The enrichment portion of the diet promotes normal feeding and foraging behaviors and contributes to the overall nutrient intake of the animal.

Geographic Range

The coati can be found inhabiting tropical rainforests and dry scrub. They range from Arizona through Mexico and Central America to Panama and can be found in some areas of South America.