White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
A raccoon relative from the Americas with a long, bendy snout and a ringed tail held high like a flag.
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About the White-nosed Coati
White-nosed coatis have a head and body about 26 inches long, a ringed tail almost as long, and weigh 6.5 to 13 pounds. They live from Arizona to Argentina, in dry forests and tropical woodlands. Their strong claws and flexible snouts help them dig into cracks and holes for food. They eat fruit, invertebrates, small rodents and lizards, mostly on the ground.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Nasua narica[1]
- Size
- Head and body about 26 inches; tail almost as long.[1]
- Weight
- 6.5 to 13 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- Up to 7 years in the wild; about 14 in human care.[1]
- Diet
- Omnivore. Fruit, invertebrates, small rodents and lizards.[1]
- Habitat
- Dry open forests and tropical woodlands.[1]
- Where it lives
- North, Central and South America, from Arizona to Argentina.[1]
- Group life
- Bands of 4 to 20 females and young; adult males live alone.[1]
- Babies
- 2 to 7 young after a 10- to 11-week pregnancy.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2015).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- snout
- An animal's long nose and mouth.
- band
- A group of coatis that live together.
- forage
- To search for food.
- omnivore
- An animal that eats both plants and other animals.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Small Mammal HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “White-nosed coati.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/white-nosed-coati (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Nasua narica (White-nosed Coati).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41683/45216060 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
