Ring-tailed coatis have either a light brown or black coat, with a lighter underpart and a white-ringed tail in most cases. Coatis have a long brown tail with rings on it which are anywhere from starkly defined like a raccoon's to very faint. As in raccoons but not ring-tailed cats and cacomistles, the rings go completely around the tail. Coatis often hold the tail erect; it is used as such to keep troops of coatis together in tall vegetation. The tip of the tail can be moved slightly on its own, as is the case with cats, but it is not prehensile as is that of the kinkajou, another procyonid.
Ring-tailed coatis have either a light brown or black coat, with a lighter underpart and a white-ringed tail in most cases Coatis have a long brown tail with rings on it which are anywhere from starkly defined like a raccoon's to very faint As in raccoons but not ring-tailed cats and cacomistles the rings go completely around the tail. Coatis often hold the tail erect; it is used as such to keep troops of coatis together in tall vegetation. The tip of the tail can be moved slightly on its own, as is the case with cats but it is no,t prehensile as is that of the kinkajou, another procyonid.