Editing Coati (section)

==Physical characteristics==
Adult coatis measure {{convert|33|to|69|cm|in|abbr=on}} from head to the base of the tail, which can be as long as their bodies. Coatis are about {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall at the shoulder and weigh between {{convert|2|and|8|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, about the size of a large [[cat|house cat]]. Males can become almost twice as large as females and have large, sharp [[Canine tooth|canine teeth]]. The measurements above relate to the white-nosed and South America coatis. The two species of mountain coati are smaller.<ref name="split">{{cite journal|last=Helgen|first=K. M.|author2=Kays, R.|author3=Helgen, L. E.|author4=Tsuchiya-Jerep, M. T. N.|author5=Pinto, C. M.|author6=Koepfli, K. P.|author7=Eizirik, E.|author8=Maldonado, J. E.|date=August 2009|title=Taxonomic boundaries and geographic distributions revealed by an integrative systematic overview of the mountain coatis, ''Nasuella'' (Carnivora: Procyonidae)|url=http://nebula.wsimg.com/39df4ab63ff1d71fab2908b5de9df233?AccessKeyId=35E369A09ED705622D78&disposition=0&alloworigin=1|journal=Small Carnivore Conservation|volume=41|pages=65–74|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref>

All coatis share a slender head with an elongated, flexible, slightly upturned nose, small ears, dark feet, and a long non-[[prehensile tail]] used for balance and signaling.

Ring-tailed coatis have either a light brown or black coat, with a lighter underpart and a white-ringed tail in most cases. Coatis have a long brown tail with rings on it which are anywhere from starkly defined like a [[Procyon (genus)|raccoon]]'s to very faint. As in raccoons but not [[ring-tailed cat]]s and [[cacomistle]]s, the rings go completely around the tail. Coatis often hold the tail erect; it is used as such to keep troops of coatis together in tall vegetation. The tip of the tail can be moved slightly on its own, as is the case with cats, but it is not prehensile as is that of the [[kinkajou]], another procyonid.

Coatis have [[bear]]- and raccoon-like paws and walk [[plantigrade]] like raccoons and bears (on the soles of the feet, as do humans). Coatis have nonretractable claws. Coatis also are able to rotate their ankles beyond 180°, in common with raccoons and other procyonids (and others in the order Carnivora and rare cases among other mammals); they are therefore able to descend trees head first. (Other animals living in forests have acquired some or all of these properties through [[convergent evolution]], including members of the [[mongoose]], [[Viverridae|civet]], [[Mustelidae|weasel]], [[Felidae|cat]], and [[Ursidae|bear]] families.)

The coati snout is long and somewhat [[Suidae|pig]]-like—part of the reason for its nickname, the "hog-nosed raccoon". It is also extremely flexible and can rotate up to 60° in any direction. They use their noses to push objects and rub parts of their body. The facial markings include white markings around the eyes and on the ears and snout.

Coatis have strong limbs to climb and dig and have a reputation for [[Animal cognition|intelligence]], like their fellow [[Procyonidae|procyonid]], the raccoon. Unlike the nocturnal raccoons, however, most coatis are [[Diurnality|diurnal]], although some may exhibit [[Cathemerality|cathemeral]] behavior.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dutra|first1=J.|last2=Pereira|first2=Ramos|last3=M.J.|display-authors=etal|last4=Horn|first4=P.|date=2023|title=Sympatric procyonids in the Atlantic Forest: revealing differences in detection, occupancy, and activity of the coati and the crab-eating raccoon in a gradient of anthropogenic alteration|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42991-023-00349-4|journal=Mammalian Biology|volume=103|issue=3 |pages=289–301|doi=10.1007/s42991-023-00349-4}}</ref> They prefer to sleep or rest in elevated places and niches, like the [[rainforest]] [[canopy (biology)|canopy]], in crudely built sleeping nests.