Little  (Mountain) Coatimundi

(Nasuella olivacea)

classification       range/habitat      description     diet      behavior      threats      links

Classification

Kingdom:  Animalia

    Phylum:  Chordata

                  Subphylum:  Vertebrata

                      Superclass:  Tetrapoda

                     Class:  Mammalia

                          Order:  Carnivora

                                      Family:  Procyonidae

                                      Genus:  Nasuella

                                                Species:  olivacea

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Description

Although the Little/Mountain Coati looks similar to the Coatimundi, it is a

bit smaller in size, and it has a shorter tail.  Their body fur is brown, with a

yellow-grey and dark brown ringed tail.

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Range/Habitat

The Little Coatimundi is found in the cloud forests at high altitudes (2,000-3,000 ft.)

throughout the Andes mountain range in northern Peru, western Venezuela,

Columbia, and Ecuador.

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Diet

The Little Coati is omnivorous.  Like most other coatimundis,

Nasuella olivacea feeds mainly on fruit, insects, and small vertebrates

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Behavior

These animals live in socially organized groups.  These groups consist of adult females

and young.  The males are considered solitary except during the mating season. 

Because of their aggression toward the young, the males are kicked out of the group

by the females.

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Threats

The main cause of the decline of Nasuella olivacea is deforestation. 

Much of the land where these animals reside is being used for agriculture.

Unfortunately this species is only protected in Venezuela.

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Other Little/Mountain Coatimundi links:

               Lioncrusher's Domain

     Animal Diversity

                                   IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

For more information contact the Small Carnivore Taxon Advisory Group (SCTAG) Education Liaison

Page created by Alexis DuBois, PJC Zoo Tech student, Fall 2004

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