Irene Jones, age 11, of Buffalo, N.Y., for her 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, and 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. He also eats birds' eggs, mice and lizards. It digs much of its food out of the ground with long, sharp claws.

Females 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.