02/10/2024
Did you know the name coatimundi is believed to come from the Tupian languages indigenous to South America?
Their word, kua’ti, is a combination of “cua” meaning “belt” and “tim” meaning “nose,” describing the way the coati sleeps with its nose tucked into its belly.
Coatis use these special noses to sniff out grubs like beetles and termites, plus the occasional frog, lizard, or mouse.
Unlike raccoons, who are primarily nocturnal, coatis stay awake during the day.
The name “coatimundi” was originally used to describe adult males that live alone (translating into “lone coati”), but it is now used universally to describe both sexes.