The Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a small mongoose that lives in the arid, open habitats in southern Africa. There is a social hierarchy with packs of two to 30 animals that occupy large burrow systems in plains. The burrows provide a comfortable microclimate with a large underground network that protects the Meerkat from harsh weather and extreme temperatures. As insectivores the Meerkat feeds heavily on beetles and lepidopterans, and it sometimes eats amphibians, arthopods, small birds, and reptiles. Physically, the coat is light gray to yellow-brown with light and dark bands on the back, and the foreclaws aid in digging. It also has large eyes, a pointed snout, and long legs.
The Meerkat has a body length in the range of 9.8”-13.8” (25-35 cm) and total weight of 1.3-2.2 lb (.6-1 kg). Meerkats have a shoulder height between 5.7”-7.9” (14.5-20 cm), body width of 2.75”-3.5” (7-9 cm), and tail length of 6.7”-9.8” (17-25 cm). The typical lifespan of the Meerkat is between 8-20 years.
The Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a small mongoose that lives in the arid, open habitats in southern Africa. There is a social hierarchy with packs of two to 30 animals that occupy large burrow systems in plains. The burrows provide a comfortable microclimate with a large underground network that protects the Meerkat from harsh weather and extreme temperatures. As insectivores the Meerkat feeds heavily on beetles and lepidopterans, and it sometimes eats amphibians, arthopods, small birds, and reptiles. Physically, the coat is light gray to yellow-brown with light and dark bands on the back, and the foreclaws aid in digging. It also has large eyes, a pointed snout, and long legs.
The Meerkat has a body length in the range of 9.8”-13.8” (25-35 cm) and total weight of 1.3-2.2 lb (.6-1 kg). Meerkats have a shoulder height between 5.7”-7.9” (14.5-20 cm), body width of 2.75”-3.5” (7-9 cm), and tail length of 6.7”-9.8” (17-25 cm). The typical lifespan of the Meerkat is between 8-20 years.
