Thursday, August 19, 2010

Coati vs Jaguar footage!

  I'd heard about this footage a while ago from Mary Stouffer's 'Wild America'.  This small clip from the show has made its way to YouTube and I thought I'd share it with all of you who often ask just how aggressive a coatimundi can be.  This is a perfect example of how ridiculously formidable a coati can be.
 
There are a couple of interesting things to notice in this video for those that are curious abouit coatimundi behaviors especially during an event like this.
  At around :16 in the video you'll hear the snarl of the jaguar.  Watch the coati get startled and you'll notice the tail flair up. This 'fluffing' of the tail (a phrase that almost sounds wrong) is like a gauge that describes just how dangerous the situation is.  If a coati is semi-threatened or startled, the tail will only 'fluff' a little.  If, on the other hand, the situation is extremely threatening? That tail will actually become so 'fluffed' that it will look like a bottle brush or a giant pipe-cleaner.
  When the video reaches :36 after the attack, you'll notice the jaguar has obviously been injured.  Take a second to go back and look at the posting entitled the 'Peel Street Monster'.  Take a good, long look at the image that's at the top of that post.  That image is one upset coatimundi and the full arsenal of this little animals deadly denture set.  Four self-sharpening, inch-long canines that can cut through skin like a razorblade (I know from personal experience...but that's a story for another time).  Coatimundi also have a VERY serious set of claws that can open up your skin like a sharpened knife through a wet newspaper (again...a story for another time).  Because of the coati fighting style, I'm assuming that a vicious laceration from the teeth are damaged the jaguar's paw.
  Notice the coatis tail at :43.  You'll see it sort of swishing from side-to-side.  This is a warning against would-be attackers.  Most of the time this is in combination with a noise I really can't describe in words (I'll try to get an audio clip of the noise...you won't forget it).  Coatis first defense, like most small animals is the simple rule of the wild...the smaller the creature, the bigger the attitude.
  The last thing to notice is something that's always been interesting to me.  Like bears, coatis will 'clack' their mouth if they're agitated about something.  Watch the coatis mouth just after 1:01 and turn the volume up.  You'll see his mouth open very quickly and hear a quick noise.  Typically this signals that they're aggravated by something.
  This video is amazing to see.  What's cooler is being able to see some of the defense tools that coatis use in the wild to protect themselves and their troupe from attack.  During my time learning about these animals I've learned that even wolves and jaguars have become prey to an attack from a troop of animals trying to protect the troupe.
  Another reason that I'm completely fascinated by this deceivingly cute little creature..who could probably tear my face off in a heartbeat.

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