Meerkat

The meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a small carnivorous mammal and a member of the mongoose family. The name "meerkat" comes from the Afrikaans language.

Size: Adult meerkats weigh about two pounds and range from 10-14 inches tall.

Life Span: In the wild meerkats live up to 10 years, but in captivity they can live to be 15 years.

Color: Meerkats have a grizzled grayish-tan coat that is patterned with black bands on the rear portion of the back. Black bands also rim the eyes.

Continent: Africa

Range: South Africa

Habitat: Meerkats live in the Kalahari desert which is in the southern part of Africa. Meerkats are social animals that live in colonies of up to 30 animals.

Food: In the wild, a meerkat's diet consists of worms, crickets, grasshoppers, small rodents, lizards, small snakes, birds, eggs, fruit and scorpions. In captivity, meerkats are fed mice, worms and other insects.

Reproduction: Mating usually takes place between the alpha male and alpha female. Meerkats can reproduce when they are 10 months or older. They are able to breed every two months, but breeding typically depends on food availability. Litter size is usually two to five pups after a gestation period of 77 days.

Fun Fact: Meerkats live in communities and depend on one another for survival. They dig complex tunnels called burrows. A meerkat looses 5% of its body weight over night. Meerkats have dark brown or black bands around their eyes which allow them to avoid a glare from the sun.