Any of several species of carnivores of the genus
Nasua, in the same family, Procyonidae, as the raccoons. A coati is a good climber and has long claws, a long tail, a good sense of smell, and a long, flexible piglike snout used for digging. Coatis live in packs in the forests of South and Central America.
The common coati
Nasua nasua of South America is about 60 cm/2 ft long, with a tail about the same length.
© RM 2010. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.