Nasua – Coatis
Juveniles mortality in the genus is exceptionally high; danger includes being hunted by adult males
Native to the Americas, through DNA sequence analysis, species in this genus diverged from each other about 5.6 million years ago. Once two are closely related genera, Nasuella (white-nosed coati) and Nasua, now recognized as one. Nasua used to differ from Nasuella in having larger canine teeth and being larger overall.
Just like other procyonids, animals within this genus are omnivores. Their diet mainly consists of favored fruits, spiders, larvae, and other invertebrates. They also supplement their diet with small vertebrates occasionally. These animals use their sensitive nose to locate their prey on the ground and in the forest leaf litter.
Species in this genus
Western mountain coati
Plays a vital role in controlling the underground invertebrate population as they mainly prey on insects
White-nosed coati
Helps balsa trees to pollinate while they provide an essential resource of nutrition and hydration in return when the resources are scarce