We report observations and quantification of white nosed coatis (Nasua narica) using century plants (Agave palmeri) as a novel food source in Arizona. After observing a female coati eating in century plants, we inspected all flowering century plants in areas of coati activity for presence of scratch marks. Use of agaves by coatis was relatively common. Coatis climbed plants with large diameter at breast height relative to unscratched plants, but did not preferentially use agaves based on height or number of flower aggregations. Agaves in areas of high coati activity were more likely to possess scratch marks. Flowering agaves contain nectar, pollen, and arthropod species, all of which likely provide nutrition. The opportunistic foraging and willingness of coatis to experiment with unique food sources might partially explain the expansive distribution of the species under a wide variety of ecological conditions.
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1 December 2003
USE OF CENTURY PLANTS (AGAVE PALMERI) BY COATIS (NASUA NARICA)
Maureen E. McColgin,
Erica J. Brown,
Sophia M. Bickford,
Anna L. Eilers,
John L. Koprowski
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The Southwestern Naturalist
Vol. 48 • No. 4
December 2003
Vol. 48 • No. 4
December 2003