South American Coati

Habitat

Wide-ranging, including tropical lowlands, dry high-altitude forests, oak forests, mesquite grassland, and forest edges.

Wild Diet

Earthworms, termites, snails, lizards, snakes and mice. Also, fruits, roots, nuts and eggs.

Behaviour

Coatis are mainly active during the day. They are excellent climbers using their tail for balancing on branches and to slow their descent down the tree.

Breeding

After a gestation of 77 days (11 weeks), 3 - 7 cubs are born.

Threats

Habitat loss due to deforestation and hunting for their meat by natives are major threats for the species.

Conservation

This species is protected under CITES Appendix III in Uruguay. The species occurs in numerous protected areas.