Meerkats

Meerkat

Meerkats

Did You Know?

Meerkats are immune to certain types of venom and they can eat many poisonous snakes and scorpions.

All about Meerkats

Order:
Carnivora
Family:
Herpestidae
Group:
Suricata
Lifespan:
12-14 years
Gestation:
11 weeks
Habitat:
Desert, scrublands and savannahs
Diet:
Insects, worms, small rodents, lizards, snakes, scorpions, eggs, fruit and plants
Conservation Status:
Least Concern

Fun Facts!

Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are diurnal animals, which means they are active during the day. They are on the go all day long, using their long claws to forage for food.

Meerkats are part of the Mongoose family.

Meerkats use their tail to balance when they stand on the lookout for predators.

Their eyes have black rings around them which help to deflect the sun.

They have small, half moon shaped ears which they can close when they are digging.

They live in Mobs of up to 30 but there will only be one alpha pair who will be the only ones to breed. The rest of the group help care for any new pups.

Some female Meerkats actually begin to produce milk in the presence of newborns without ever being pregnant themselves, so that they can feed the pups.

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