Mystery pet in Belize.

December 31, 2012 11:34 AM

What exotic pet animal did I see in San Pedro, Belize?

I was walking in downtown San Pedro yesterday, and saw that a street vendor had an interesting little creature tied up on a leash next to her table. It was a little smaller than an average cat, had a long, pointed snout and a black nose, little black feet, and bristly greyish-beige fur. It was friendly, letting me pet it, nipping very gently at my hand and shirt, and trying to clamber up on me.

I wanted to ask the shopkeeper about it, but she was busy with an actual customer, and my phone was dead, so I couldn't take a picture; I thought I'd come back a little later, but when I did they were gone. Any ideas from the description? This is proving hard to google.

posted by eugenen to pets & animals (5 answers total)

Possibly a coati.
posted by gubo at 11:43 AM on December 31, 2012

Was it a gibnut?
posted by waitangi at 11:44 AM on December 31, 2012

Coati seems likely, but I'll add tayra to the list.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 11:48 AM on December 31, 2012

Almost certainly a coati, probably a white-nosed coati, which is endemic in the region and looks basically just as you describe. They are not uncommon as pets in Central America.
posted by drlith at 12:06 PM on December 31, 2012

Coati seems right. Thanks!
posted by eugenen at 12:26 PM on December 31, 2012