Brazil: Iguacu Falls – Ring-tailed Coatis
Ring-tailed coatis are on the prowl at sunrise along the pathways at the Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls. The omnivorous raccoon-equivalents of South America search for anything edible – invertebrates in the ground (digging with their claws and longs snouts), and fruits in the trees (climbing up the branches), and anything that tourists may carry in their backpacks. Coatis have an excellent sense of smell, and have highly flexible, elongated noses that allow them to search for food hidden well out of sight. The animals are very social and communicate via sounds as well as their raises ringed tails. They can stand on their hind legs and look up at you or smell the air.
