Coatis are in the raccoon family and are a bit longer and thinner than raccoons. They are mostly light gray underneath and on their chest and shoulders with light or dark brown on top and rings on the tails. Their spiky-haired tail can be as long as the body. They are about 18-27 inches (46-69 cm) long and weigh about 10 lb (4.5 kg).

Before the sun rises, the bands of coatis stream down from their sleeping trees, where they spent the night curled-up, high up in the trees. Immediately they start foraging for fruit, termites, lizards, butterflies, spiders and other treats. For these activities, they have reasonably strong jaws and teeth and some good claws.

The coatis move around together in huge, protective family groups of 8 or so, or up to even 40. These are the females and their young. Bands of coatis may be heard grunting, whining, woofing, and clicking as they root through the jungle with their long thin, pig-like snouts.

The adult males are called coatimundis and they don’t stay in the bands but roam around solo. When mating season comes they seek out the female groups and compete (fight) with other males for breeding honors. After that, the females chase the males away again.

They can live in wet tropical forests to scrub, brush or grasslands; from the Southern part of the US to South America.

They have been occasionally kept as pets and are known to be gentle, clever and friendly.