Nasuella
Encyclopedia
Mountain coatis are two species of procyonid
mammals from the genus Nasuella. Unlike the larger coatis from the genus Nasua
, mountain coatis only weigh 1–1.5 kg (2.2–3.3 lb) and are endemic to the north Andean highlands in South America
. Until recently only a single species with three subspecies
was recognized. In 2009 this species was split into two species, the Eastern Mountain Coati (N. meridensis) from Venezuela
, and the Western Mountain Coati (N. olivacea, with subspecies quitensis) from Colombia
, Ecuador
and perhaps far northern Peru
(still unconfirmed).
Externally the two species of mountain coatis are quite similar, but the Eastern Mountain Coati is overall smaller, somewhat shorter-tailed on average, has markedly smaller teeth, a paler olive-brown pelage, and usually a dark mid-dorsal stripe on the back (versus more rufescent
or blackish, and usually without a dark mid-dorsal stripe in the Western Mountain Coati). Both are found in cloud forest
and paramo
; at altitudes of 2000–4000 m (6,561.7–13,123.4 ft) for the Eastern Mountain Coati, and 1300–4250 m (4,265.1–13,943.6 ft) for the Western Mountain Coati.
They are very poorly known, and the "combined species" (when only one species was recognized) has been classified as data deficient
by the IUCN. Their behavior largely appears to resemble that of the better-known Nasua
coatis, although the mountain coatis feed less on fruit. Unlike the Nasua coatis, mountain coatis are very rare in captivity. Among ISIS
registered institutions, only three zoo
s (all in USA) reported that they had mountain coatis in early 2011, but at least one of these appears to be a case of misidentification. A mountain coati that was confiscated from poachers
is kept at Bioparque la Reserva in Cota, Colombia
.
Genetic
evidence suggests the genus Nasua only is monophyletic if it also includes the mountain coatis.
Procyonidae
Procyonidae is a New World family of the order Carnivora. It includes the raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, ringtails and cacomistles. Procyonids inhabit a wide range of environments, and are generally omnivorous.-Characteristics:...
mammals from the genus Nasuella. Unlike the larger coatis from the genus Nasua
Nasua
Nasua is a genus within the Raccoon family, Procyonidae. The three species within the genus Nasua are generally referred to as coatis. Two additional species of coatis, commonly known as mountain coatis, are placed in the genus Nasuella...
, mountain coatis only weigh 1–1.5 kg (2.2–3.3 lb) and are endemic to the north Andean highlands in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Until recently only a single species with three subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
was recognized. In 2009 this species was split into two species, the Eastern Mountain Coati (N. meridensis) from Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and the Western Mountain Coati (N. olivacea, with subspecies quitensis) from Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and perhaps far northern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
(still unconfirmed).
Externally the two species of mountain coatis are quite similar, but the Eastern Mountain Coati is overall smaller, somewhat shorter-tailed on average, has markedly smaller teeth, a paler olive-brown pelage, and usually a dark mid-dorsal stripe on the back (versus more rufescent
Rufous
Rufous is a colour that may be described as reddish-brown or brownish-red, as of rust or oxidised iron.The first recorded use of rufous as a colour name in English was in the year 1782....
or blackish, and usually without a dark mid-dorsal stripe in the Western Mountain Coati). Both are found in cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
and paramo
Páramo
The term páramo can refer to a variety of ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline”. A more narrow term classifies the páramo according to its regional placement - specifically located in “the northern Andes...
; at altitudes of 2000–4000 m (6,561.7–13,123.4 ft) for the Eastern Mountain Coati, and 1300–4250 m (4,265.1–13,943.6 ft) for the Western Mountain Coati.
They are very poorly known, and the "combined species" (when only one species was recognized) has been classified as data deficient
Data Deficient
Data Deficient is a category applied by the IUCN, other agencies, and individuals to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made...
by the IUCN. Their behavior largely appears to resemble that of the better-known Nasua
Nasua
Nasua is a genus within the Raccoon family, Procyonidae. The three species within the genus Nasua are generally referred to as coatis. Two additional species of coatis, commonly known as mountain coatis, are placed in the genus Nasuella...
coatis, although the mountain coatis feed less on fruit. Unlike the Nasua coatis, mountain coatis are very rare in captivity. Among ISIS
International Species Information System
-External links:*...
registered institutions, only three zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
s (all in USA) reported that they had mountain coatis in early 2011, but at least one of these appears to be a case of misidentification. A mountain coati that was confiscated from poachers
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
is kept at Bioparque la Reserva in Cota, Colombia
Cota, Colombia
Cota is a municipality and town of Colombia in the department of Cundinamarca.Jose Nestor Gonzalez Romero is the mayor of Cota.-External links:...
.
Genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
evidence suggests the genus Nasua only is monophyletic if it also includes the mountain coatis.
External links
- ARKiveARKiveARKive is a global initiative with the mission of "promoting the conservation of the world's threatened species, through the power of wildlife imagery", which it does by locating and gathering films, photographs and audio recordings of the world's species into a centralised digital archive. Its...
(2010). Nasuella olivacea in Ecuador. Photo by Nigel Simpson/Jocotoco FoundationFundación de Conservación JocotocoFundación de Conservación Jocotoco is an Ecuadorian non-governmental environmental organization. Fundación Jocotoco was founded in 1998 when a group of conservationists came together to purchase the type locality of the newly discovered Jocotoco Antpitta . Robert S...
.