Wild Personalities: Coati

A close relative of the raccoon, the coati inhabits The Americas where it can be spotted from Arizona all the way down to northern Uruguay. Although coatis are mainly terrestrial, spending their days foraging on the forest floor, they sleep, mate, and give birth up in the trees. Their long ringed tails help with balance while long claws and special reversable ankle joints make climbing and descending to and from the canopy easier. Get Inspired By Photos, Videos, Webinars, Stories, And Exclusive Offers. Sign Up

Coatis have a unique social system. Females live together in highly organized groups of up to 30, called bands. Male coatis live solitary lives, except during the breeding season when they join these groups. This structure originally puzzled biologists who classified the males as a separate species. In fact, the name ‘coatimundi’ which is still sometimes used today means ‘lone coati.’ In this short video, learn more about these fascinating forest-dwellers.