White-nosed coati
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White-nosed Coati ( Nasua narica ) |
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| ( Linnaeus , 1766) |
The white-nosed coati ( Nasua narica ) is a species of predator from the small bear family (Procyonidae) and one of three species of coatis . The animals are distributed from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to northern Colombia .
features
general characteristics
The white-nosed coati reaches an average head-trunk length of 63 centimeters, a tail length of around 50 centimeters and a total length of 80 to 130 centimeters. The rear foot length is 9.5 to 12.2 centimeters, the weight is around three to five kilograms. It has the for coatis typical elongated, flexible snout that sits on an elongated head. The fur of these animals is usually gray-brown with a silvery tint, especially on the arms. The face is also gray-brown and has a white band on the muzzle near the nose. There is a white spot above and below the eye as well as on the cheeks, which distinguishes the species from the South American coati ( Nasua nasua ) and the mountain coati ( Nasuella olivacea ). There are also white areas on the throat and abdomen.
The feet are darker than the basic color, almost black, and have bare soles, the front feet have long and curved claws. The animals step with the entire foot (plantigrad), the front legs are slightly shorter than the rear legs. The tail, which is long and thinner towards the rear, is curled, but the pattern is less pronounced than that of the South American coati; it is carried raised while running.
Features of the skull
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The skull of the white-nosed coati has a total length of 10.7 to 13.4 and a maximum width of 5.0 to 7.4 centimeters. Like all coatis, they have three incisors , one elongated canine , four premolars and two molars per half in the upper and lower jaws . In total, the animals have a set of 44 teeth. The molars have only very flat enamel pads and they are smaller than those of the mountain coati or raccoons ( Procyon ). The cutting edges of the canines are less pronounced and when the mouth closes, the upper and lower canines slide past each other and stay in contact.
distribution and habitat
The white-nosed coati has the northernmost distribution area of the coati species. It stretches from the southern United States ( Arizona , Texas and New Mexico ) through Mexico to western Colombia .
It is found most often in forests, but inhabits different habitats, from tropical rainforests to mountain forests.
Way of life
White-nosed coatis live both in the trees and on the ground. When they move on the ground, they hold their tails straight up; in the trees it is mainly used for balance. Adult males are sometimes nocturnal, but unlike most small bears, the animals are usually diurnal. Females and juveniles live in groups of four to 20 animals, while males are solitary animals. Males are territorial animals that vehemently defend their 70 to 270 hectare territories against their peers. The groups of females and young animals show less pronounced territorial behavior.
The natural enemies of the white-nosed coatis include cats , birds of prey and giant snakes .
nutrition
White-nosed coatis are omnivores, but they mainly feed on insects. Spiders, scorpions, crabs and small vertebrates are also part of their diet, and fruits and other plant material are also consumed.
Reproduction
The breeding season is in February or March. At this point, a group allows a male to approach. This subordinates itself to the females through grooming and other submissive behavior, after which it mates with all animals and is then driven away again.
After about 77 days of gestation, a female gives birth to two to seven young. At birth, it sets up a leaf nest in the trees and withdraws from the group. The young are initially blind and covered with dark gray down. They are weaned at four months, mature at 15 months, and reach sexual maturity at around two years of age. At this point the male pups are driven out of the group. Coatis can live up to 17 years old.
Systematics
The white-nosed coati is classified as an independent species within the genus of coatis ( Nasua ), which consists of three species. The first scientific description comes from Carl von Linné from 1766, who described it as [Viverra] narica in his 12th edition of the Systam Naturae . In 1803 the species was assigned to the genus Nasua , first described by Gottlieb Conrad Christian Storr in 1780 by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire .
Within the species, together with the nominate form, three subspecies are distinguished:
- Nasua narica molaris
- Nasua narica narica
- Nasua narica yucatanica
The Nelson's coati ( Nasua nelsoni , syn .: Nasua narica nelsoni ) living on the island of Cozumel is also partly considered a subspecies of the white-nosed coati, but partly also described as a separate species with a controversial species status.
Status and protection
The white-nosed coati is classified as "Least Concern" (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the populations are assessed as stable. This is justified by the relatively large distribution area and the regular occurrence. Locally, the species is threatened by habitat loss and hunting, but the decline is not so great that the species is threatened in its populations.
They are rarely hunted by humans because they do not cause any damage to plantations and their fur is worthless. In recent years they have been able to expand their range to the north.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c R. Kays: White-nosed Coati, Nasua naruca. In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2009, ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1 , pp. 527-528.
- ↑ a b c d e f g Matthew E. Gompper: Nasua narica. Mammalian Species 587, June 27, 1995; Pp. 1-10. ( Full text )
- ↑ a b c d e Jonathan Marceau: Nasua narica, white-nosed coati in the Animal Diversity Net, 2001; accessed on August 20, 2017.
- ↑ DM Decker: Systematics Of The Coatis, Genus Nasua (Mammalia, Procyonidae). In: Proceedings of The Biological Society of Washington , 1991, 104: 370-386. ( Online ( Memento from October 6, 2014 in the Internet Archive ))
- ^ Alfredo D. Cuarón, Miguel Angel Martínez-Morales, Katherine W. Mcfadden, David Valenzuela, Matthew E. Gompper: The status of dwarf carnivores on Cozumel Island, Mexico. Biodiversity & Conservation 13 (2), February 2004; Pp. 317-331. doi: 10.1023 / B: BIOC.0000006501.80472.cc , full text
- ↑ a b Nasua narica in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: AD Cuarón, K. slipway, F. Reid, J. Pino, JF Gonzalez Maya, 2015. Accessed August 20, 2017th
literature
- R. Kays: White-nosed Coati, Nasua naruca. In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2009, ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1 , pp. 527-528.
- Matthew E. Gompper: Nasua narica. Mammalian Species 587, June 27, 1995; Pp. 1-10. ( Full text )
Web links
- Nasua narica in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: AD Cuarón, K. slipway, F. Reid, J. Pino, JF Gonzalez Maya, 2015. Accessed August 20, 2017th
- Jonathan Marceau: Nasua narica, white-nosed coati in the Animal Diversity Net, 2001; accessed on August 20, 2017.