Michael Grayson, age 10, of Nogales, Ariz., for his question:

WHERE DOES THE COATI LIVE?

The coati, or coatimundi, is a member of the raccoon family. It can be found living in wooded areas from Arizona southward to northern Argentina. It measures from 16 to 26 inches long, not counting its tail. It weighs from 10 to 15 pounds.

The coati, which is pronounced koh ah tee, eats insects, land crabs, snails, spiders and a wide variety of fruits. The animal also eats birds' eggs, mice and lizards. It digs much of its food out of the ground with long, sharp claws.

Female and young coatis travel in groups of six to 20, but the adult males choose to live alone. The word, “coatimundi" is an Indian term meaning "lone coati," and it actually refers only to the males.