Keywords
scavenging
omnivorous diet
paca
white-nosed coati
How to Cite
Accepted 2025-12-02
Published 2026-07-22
Abstract
The pizote or white-nosed coati Nasua narica (Carnivora: Procyonidae) is an omnivorous species widely distributed throughout the American continent, with a diet primarily composed of invertebrates and fruits. On September 7, 2019, during a field survey in Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve, Costa Rica, a male individual was observed and recorded scavenging from the decomposing remains of a paca Cuniculus paca (Rodentia: Cuniculidae). The remains were identified from the animal’s limbs. The coati's good physical condition suggests that this behavior reflects an opportunistic feeding strategy rather than a response to weakness. This observation constitutes the first documented evidence of scavenging by N. narica in Costa Rica and reinforces its generalist dietary habits. Documenting this type of interaction contributes to understanding the species’ trophic ecology in tropical ecosystems.
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