White-Nosed Coati

Description:

These coatis were foraging around the base of a mango tree for fallen fruit, and used their noses and claws to dig through the leafy debris. Each coati was around three and a half feet long (including the tail) and had dark brown fur and a darker streak along the spine, a long, faintly-striped tail which they held in the air, and white markings on their pointed face. There were only two coatis present at the moment these photos were taken, but as many as eight were foraging at one time or another around the tree. They mostly remained on the ground looking for food, but one individual climbed into the mango tree. They did not mind people watching them from a distance, but when startled, they quickly retreated into the forest.

Habitat:

This group was spotted approximately ten meters from the edge of the rainforest of Corcovado National Park within a short distance of a sandy beach. They emerged from the rainforest to forage under a mango tree.

Notes:

The appearance and behavior of coatis seem like a cross between a raccoon and a bear, and they are inquisitive and intelligent (and pretty darn cute). The locals refer to this species as both "coatimundi" and "pizote," and elsewhere they also go by the name "snookum bear" which seems to fit them very well. The light wasn't great in these photos so the last one is blurry; the first photo is the second photo cropped to show better detail.