Nasuella meridensis

Nasuella meridensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Nasuella
Species:
N. meridensis
Binomial name
Nasuella meridensis
(Thomas, 1901)
Synonyms
  • Nasuella olivacea

The eastern mountain coati or eastern dwarf coati (Nasuella meridensis) is a small procyonid found in cloud forest and páramo at elevations of 2,000–4,000 m (6,600–13,100 ft) in the Andes of western Venezuela.[2] Until 2009, it was included as a subspecies of the western mountain coati (Nasuella olivacea), but the eastern mountain coati is overall smaller, somewhat shorter-tailed on average, has markedly smaller teeth, a paler olive-brown pelage, and usually a dark mid-dorsal stripe on the back versus more rufescent or blackish, and usually without a dark mid-dorsal stripe in the western mountain coati.[2] When the two were combined, they were classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List but following the split the eastern mountain coati is considered endangered.[1] A genetic analysis revealed that it should be regarded as a synonym of N. olivacea.[3]

The physical differences between the N. meridensis and N. olivacae is suggested to be of allopatric nature and is attributed to a geographical gap at the Columbian-Venezuelan border.[2]›

  1. ^ a b González-Maya, J.F.; Arias-Alzate, AAA (2016). "Nasuella meridensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T72261777A72261787. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T72261777A72261787.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Helgen, K. M.; Kays, R.; Helgen, L. E.; Tsuchiya-Jerep, M. T. N.; Pinto, C. M.; Koepfli, K. P.; Eizirik, E. & Maldonado, J. E. (2009). "Taxonomic boundaries and geographic distributions revealed by an integrative systematic overview of the mountain coatis, Nasuella (Carnivora: Procyonidae)". Small Carnivore Conservation. 41: 65–74.
  3. ^ Ruiz-García, M.; Jaramillo, M. F; Cáceres-Martínez, C. H. & Shostell, J. M. (2020). "The phylogeographic structure of the mountain coati (Nasuella olivacea; Procyonidae, Carnivora), and its phylogenetic relationships with other coati species (Nasua nasua and Nasua narica) as inferred by mitochondrial DNA". Mammalian Biology. 100 (5): 521–548. doi:10.1007/s42991-020-00050-w. S2CID 225541049.