Coati
Nasua nasua
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Photo credit: ©Vassil
Nasua nasua
Common Names:
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
Potential or Known Impacts:
How could it get here?
Is it found in Ireland or Northern Ireland?
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Methods for Prevention:
Nasua nasua
Common Names:
- Coati, Ring-tailed coati, South American coati
Habitat:
Description:
- Forested areas, grassland, savannah and dry scrubland. Will live close to humans.
Description:
- The coati is a medium-sized mammal, easily recognised by its ringed tail and long snout.
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
- The coati is native to South America and was first imported into Europe for the pet trade. It has since established itself in a number of key Natura 2000 sites on the island of Majorca in Spain. It also survived out of captivity in France and Germany. Its rapid spread in Majorca demonstrates the strong invasive potential of the species.
Potential or Known Impacts:
- Being an opportunistic feeder, the coati can cause the local decimation of rare native species, such as the Majorcan midwife toad.
- Further potential risks could include economic damage to agriculture and the transmission of diseases to farmed animals and humans.
How could it get here?
- Imported for pets and zoos, but a sales ban and phasing out of zoos will stop the invasive threat.
Is it found in Ireland or Northern Ireland?
- Not present in Northern Ireland.
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Methods for Prevention:
- A sales ban, the phasing out from zoos, collections and any other ownership, a rapid eradication of any newly emerging populations, and the management of established populations should prevent the species from being introduced or spreading into other Southern European countries.
- Report all sightings
- Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
- This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
NIEA-ID-Guide-Nasua-nasua-Coatmundi-V3-Oct24