Coati Essay

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Coati (Co-wa-te) An adult coati measure’s thirty-three to sixty-nine centimeters from head to the base of the tail, which can be as long as their bodies. Coatis are about thirty centimeters tall at the shoulder’s, and weigh between four to eighteen pounds, about the size of a large house cat. Males can become almost twice as large as females and have large, sharp canine teeth. The above measurement’s are for the white nosed and South American Coati. The two mountain coatis are smaller. Overall, coatis are widespread. Their habitats range from hot and airy areas to humid Amazonian rainforests areas. They can even withstand cold Andean mountain slopes, as well as, grasslands and bushy areas. Their geographical range extends from the southwestern U.S (Southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) through Northern Argentina. Around ten coatis are thought to have formed a population in Cambria, UK. The coati’s life span is about seven to fourteen years in captivity. In the wild the life span is less, about seven to eight years. Coatis are considered carnivores by most scientists, though they eat vegetation and carrion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrion) as well, which would make them omnivores. Primarily omnivores, coatis usually look for fruit. Coatis eat palms, eggs, beetles, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, termites, lizards, small mammals, and rodents. The predators of the coati are other carnivores. Enemies include jaguarondis, foxes, dogs, ocelots, and jaguars. Also, large raptors, such as ornate hawk-eagles, black and chestnut eagles and harpy eagles, are known to hunt them. Male coatis live alone and females are found in groups. In mating season, however, they meet and reproduce. When a female is ready to have babies she leaves the others and makes a nest in a tree, and only rejoins her group when the offspring is around six weeks old.

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