Plural of coati; tropical animals with long snouts and tails related to raccoons that live in Central and South America.
From Spanish 'coatí', borrowed from Tupi (indigenous Brazilian language) 'cua'tia' meaning 'belt-wearer', referring to the animal's ringed tail. Entered English in the 17th century through colonial contact.
Coatis are one of the few animals whose name comes from an indigenous language through Spanish colonial traders—their name literally means 'belt-wearer' because their striped tails look like decorative belts wrapped around their bodies!
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