Coatis spend considerable time on the ground, but they climb trees as easily as a squirrel.

When in trees, their long tail seems to function, as does that of a squirrel, largely in maintaining balance.

Coatis are sociable creatures and travel in packs or troops.

Unlike their relatives, the raccoons, coatis are largely active by day.

They consume a wide variety of available food including insects and other ground-dwelling arthropods, lizards, snakes, carrion, rodents, nuts and fruits and prickly pear.