Coatimundi -- What Exactly is It?

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Ranked #569 in Animals, #14,909 overall

More commonly known as simply Coati, this furry little rascal is a member of the raccoon family!

I've had the distinct pleasure of walking amidst a couple dozen of Coatimundi on our trip to Costa Rica.  We were driving a very rough, windy road on our way to Tabacón, the hot springs resort in the northern area to see the Arenal Volcano.  Ahead of us on the road, we spotted a tour bus that had pulled over ... and, from the hillside emerged these furry rascals! I was awed by the amiable personality of the coatimundi.

As we fed the Coatimundi, we captured several pictures which I've sprinkled throughout this lens.  Enjoy!

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"It's lunch time ... and we're hungry.

Got food?"

Coatimundi in Costa Rica

What is a Coatimundi? 

We saw these rascals in Costa Rica ...

Coatis, genera Nasua and Nasuella, also known as Brazilian aardvarks, hog-nosed coons,mundoandino.com and snookum bears, are members of the raccoon family (Procyonidae). They are diurnal mammals native to South, Central, and south-western North America. The word "coatimundi" ( Coati at bartelby.com) is a commonly used misnomer applied to solitary adult males of N. nasua. The term is reported to be derived from the Tupi language (Brazil).Merriam-Webster; The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary's etymology of the term is that it's Portuguese cuatimundi from Tupi kuatimu?ne, from kua?ti+mu/ne snare, trick.

"Hmmm ... cool car ... there's probably MORE food in there! Follow me!!!"

Coatimundi hanging around our car in Costa Rica

Tell me more about the family of Procyonidae 

What's that??? Coatis AND raccoons, kinkajous, olingos, ringtails and cacomistles.

Procyonidae is a New World family of the order Carnivora. It includes the raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, ringtails and cacomistles. Procyonids inhabit a wide range of environments, and are generally omnivorous.

Coatimundi in a Bush 

Framed Art Print by Walter Meayers Edwards

Coatimundi in a bush Subject Framed Art Poster Print by Walter Meayers Edwards, 29x21

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AllPosters.com is the world's #1 seller of posters, prints, photographs, specialty products and framed art. We're dedicated to bringing our customers the best selection of high quality wall decor that is perfect for their home or office.

Coatimundi emerging from the hillside in Costa Rica

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Nasua
Species: N. nasua

Omnivore

The coati is an omnivore; its diet consists mainly of ground litter invertebrates and fruit.

Insight Guide Costa Rica 

"... during the dry season when they gather at waterholes. Deer, coatimundis, armadillos , iguanas and crocodiles measuring up to 5 meters ..."

Insight Guide Costa Rica (Insight Guides Costa Rica)

Amazon Price: $22.95 (as of 11/10/2009)Buy Now

One of over 400 titles in the Insight series, Insight Guide Costa Rica. This 298-page book includes a section detailing Costa Rica's history, 8 features covering the country's life and culture, ranging from the spectacular plant life to the best coffee in the worldallegedly, a region by region visitor's guide to the sights, and a comprehensive Travel Tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. Plus 283 impressive photographs and 7 maps, including a National Parks and Reserves map.

They are gregarious

Coati females and young males up to 2 years of age are gregarious, traveling through their territories in noisy, loosely-organized bands made up of 4 to 25 individuals.

A Coatimundi at the beach? 

Time for a vacation ...

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Other people's pics of Coatimundi 

Coatimundi (Nasua nasua) & Raccoon (Procyon lotor) by cliff1066™

Coatimundi (Nasua na...

Coati Mundi by Bill Hails

Coati Mundi

Coatimundi riding penny farthing by Thomas Guest

Coatimundi riding pe...

Coatimundi by TheGirlsNY

Coatimundi

Coatimundi by TheGirlsNY

Coatimundi

Coatimundi by TheGirlsNY

Coatimundi

Coatimundi by astuder

Coatimundi

Panama 1997 by Rictor Norton & David Allen

Panama 1997

DSC_1425 by pavelrybin

DSC_1425

Waccatee Zoo by _rockinfree

Waccatee Zoo

automatically generated by Flickr

Cute Coatimundi videos 


Coati Mundi

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Coatimundi-6

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Coatimundi

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Coatimundi

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Costa Rican Rainforest - Coatimundi

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A Baby Coati Mundi

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Cute Coatimundi Plush 

17" Coatimundi by Hansa

Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

Plush Coatimundi 13"

Amazon Price: $14.49 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

The news on Coatimundi 

Nevada couple: 'Honey, I think you've got a zoo'
Goats, lemurs and coatimundi have all seen the inside of Jay's Cessna. He once flew from South D...
Search for Hot Dog's owner continues
Alamance County's most famous animal immigrant hasn't been given his walking papers just yet...
Book sale planned to raise funds for SCVUSD 35
You may also drop off books at any of the Santa Cruz Valley Schools: Rio Rico High School; Calabasas...
A natural delight in the desert
A colleague caught a glimpse one night of an odd-looking critter later identified as a ringtail, a r...

Drop me a line ... 

Have you ever seen a Coatimundi in person? Fed one? Been to Costa Rica?

Lensmaster

madison wrote

i have coatimundi, not the bets idea! its a lot of work and care, and a messy job, it flings poo. EEEEWW!!!!!

Reply Posted August 24, 2009

Lensmaster

Lauren wrote

My school and I went and saw these on that SAME road (really, i saw the pic i swear!!) lol, yeah we were in a big white and blue tour bus thinger... it was in march.. probably march 20th or so.. but they were sooo cute. :D

Reply Posted May 07, 2009

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Perhaps you'd like to visit Costa Rica? 

And maybe see the Coatimundi up close?

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Grab a room in San Jose, Costa Rica 

And then drive to Tabacon!

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Some other furry rascals you might like 

NOT Coati Mundi

The Coatimundi is NOT to be confused with Coati Mundi which is the stage name of Andy Hernandez, vibraphone player and member of Kid Creole and the Coconuts as well as Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, with longtime collaborator August Darnell aka Kid Creole.

Creative Commons License 

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