Coati

Coatis, also called Brazilian aardvarks, hog-nosed coons, pizotes, crackoons and snookum bears, are mammals related to raccoons. Like many members of the raccoon family, coatis are double-jointed, and have ankles that can be rotated beyond 180 degrees. This enables them to climb down trees head first. However, unlike most members of the raccoon family, coatis are diurnal, which means they sleep at night, and are awake during the day.

Coatis measure from 1 to 2 feet in length, along with a tail that can be the same length as their body. They stand 1 foot at the shoulder, and weigh between 4.4 and 18 pounds, making them the size of a house cat. The male coati can become nearly twice the size of the female.

In the wild, coatis only live for seven to eight years. However, in captivity they can live for up to 15 years. Coatis are considered to be omnivores, their diet consisting primarily of invertebrates and fruit. Coati’s have an excellent sense of smell, and they use their paws to unearth invertebrates. Coatis also consume small vertebrate prey, like lizards, rodents, birds, birds’ eggs and even crocodile eggs.

About the Author
Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website. Jacob also guest writes for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net