Nasuella olivacea
mountain coati

Mountain coatis (Nasuella olivacea) are found in the Andes of western Venezuela, Columbia, and Ecuador. They may also be found in the far north of Peru. (Cabrera, 1957; Nowak, 1997)

Mountain coatis are found in high elevation forests over 2,000 m. (Aagard, 1982; Nowak, 1997)

Mountain coatis are approximately half the size of common coatis (Nasua nasua) with head and body lengths of 360 to 390 mm, and tail lengths of 200 to 240 mm. Other information suggests that mountain coatis can be 70 to 80 cm long from nose to tail tip. Their thick, coarse fur is olive-brown to rust colored. Animals from Colombia and Venezuela have blackish undercoats, whereas those from Ecuador have whitish undercoats. Their tails are yellowish-gray with rings of black and are often held upright when walking. Their heads are slender, with long flexible snouts that give them the coati name. Forty small teeth with low crowns and sharp crests fill these long snouts .

Strong forelimbs and reversible ankles allow mountain coatis to descend trees head first. Additionally, the long tail aids in balancing while these animals climb trees.

(Eisenberg, 1989; Poglayen-Neuwall, 1990; Russell, 1984)

Mountain coatis, like other coatis, are expected to live for an average of 7 years in the wild. Although no mountain coatis have been kept in captivity, other coatis have lived for up to 17 years in captivity (Poglayen-Neuwall, 1990; Russell, 1984).

Note: Generalized from information regarding all coatis, however Rodríguez-Bolaños and Sanchez suggest that behaviors of mountain coatis are similar to other coatis, although their group sizes are smaller.

Coatis are diurnal and territorial. They can be found, both singly and in social groups, depending upon sex. Coatis are unique amongst their relatives due to their preference for being active during the day as well as the socialness of the females. Many people are confused about the distinction between a coati and a coatimundi. The name "coatimundi" means "lone coati" in Guarani. Thus, coatimundi is the name typically given to adult male coatis who live and forage solitarily. The females travel in bands or clans of five to twelve individuals. They leave this clan only during the first few weeks of raising a newborn.

Within the clans, there is a dominance heirarchy. Social bonds are shown among females by mutual grooming and chasing away predators. Relatively recent research has suggested that cooperative relationships occur amongst not only genetic relatives, but also amongst unrelated females. As a result of these "friendships," clans are able to raise young effectively, allowing each individual to forage more and watch for predators less.

(Rodríguez-Bolaños & S·nchez, 2000; Russell, 1984)

Note: Because information is sparse for mountain coatis, this has been generalized from information regarding other coatis in the genus Nasua.

Coatis communicate most commonly by using vocalizations and scent marking. Females use a barking vocalization to warn their fellow clan members of the presence of danger. They also use whimpering sounds to keep their young close by during the process of weaning. Males most commonly use scents to establish territories and chase away rivals during mating. (Poglayen-Neuwall, 1990). Because of the close contact between mothers and infants, it is likely that tactile communication is common for this relationship. Also, coatis are known to groom one another, and this communicates information about social bonds from one coati to another.

Mountain coatis are omnivores that mostly eat insects. They utilize their powerful noses to sniff out beetles, grubs, termites, land crabs, other other invertebrates while occasionally catching frogs, lizards, and mice. Mountain coatis are said to be specialist consumers of small soil and subsoil animals in their habitat. Researchers found over 5,000 holes from digging left by a group of mountain coatis in an area no more than 35 square meters. Male coatis forage alone, and so are able to catch more lizards and rodents than females and young foraging in clans. (Rodríguez-Bolaños and S·nchez, 2000; Russell, 1984)

Foods eaten include: insects (Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Myriapoda and Hymenoptera), small vertebrates, eggs, non-insect invertebrates and fruit.

Among clans of females and young coatis, members of the clan will sound a barking alarm when danger is detected such as the presence of a jaguar. The older females of the clan with often attempt to chase away the threat while the rest of the clan scurries up trees. (Poglayen-Neuwall, 1990)

As predators of insects and other invertebrates, mountain coatis probably have some effect of regulating their prey populations. Consumption of fruit, when available, may lead to dispersal of seeds. Their foraging behavior probably helps to aerate the soil.

As a prey species, the availability of these animals probably helps to regulate predator populations.

Where the ranges of mountain coatis come into contact with human settlements, they have been known to raid crops occasionally. (Poglayen-Neuwall, 1990; Russell, 1984)

Coatis are sometimes hunted for meat, but it is unknown if the relatively rare mountain coatis specifically are hunted much. (Poglayen-Neuwall, 1990)

Although moutain coatis are not currently listed by any organization as endangered or otherwise threatened, they are suspected by several groups, including the IUCN, to be rare. More research is needed to determine the actual status of the species.

As of 1998, discussions for the formation of the International Mountain Coati Management Group were underway for the purpose of supporting and guiding conservation efforts to protect "one of the least known and potentially most endangered procyonids" (IUCN, 1998). As of October 2001, the management group has not been publicized on the IUCN web site.

Little is known specifically about mountain coatis. Much of the information is inferred from studies of their close relatives.

Similar species include Ringtailed coatis, White-nosed coatis, and Island coatis.