The first time I saw a coatimundi was about 30 years ago in Guatemala. At the time I had no idea what this strange creature was called, and to make matters worse it bit one of the ladies in our tour group. Fortunately, she was fine (although when you are bitten by a strange mammal, always consider that it might have rabies).
Coatimundis are related to raccoons. They have a long, ringed tail and a prominent flexible snout. Males are usually solitary, but females live in bands of up to a dozen or more individuals. They can live on trees as well as on the ground, and are omnivores feeding primarily on insects and fruit. Coatis are active during the day and usually sleep in trees at night. They are quite adaptable, ranging from rainforests to desert grasslands. This one was spotted at high altitudes, living in the thin forest of a volcanic rim. He emerged from the bush, boldly walked across a parking lot before disappearing in more bush.
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