The Meerkat
Height: 30 cm (12 inches).
Weight: 5 kgs (10 lbs).
Habitat: Diurnal; Grass-lined burrows.
Grouping: Usually five to thirty members.
Breeding: October - April, 2 - 5 young.
Diet: Scorpions, insects, small mammals, small reptiles, birds,
eggs, tubers and roots. Members of the mongoose family.
The Meerkat; although one of the smaller and least spectacular
in the African Animal Kingdom, remains an interesting and endearing
character. We've adopted the meerkat as our "spokes-animal"!
Statistics
Vision: Color. The dark eye
markings act like built-in
sunglasses. Feet: Non-retractable claws.
Four toes. Ears: Closeable.
Tail: 8 inches long and used as
a tripod to balance the animal in an upright position.
Activity: Diurnal (active
during the day).
Life span: 12 to 14 years.
Society: A group of meerkats,
usually five to thirty members
is called a "mob" or a "gang."
Meerkat Home
Home range: Southern
Africa/Kalahari Desert
Dwelling: Grass-lined burrows
that are shared with ground
squirrels and yellow mongoose.
Toilet: Common latrine used by
all members.
Transience: Mob moves
several times annually if food
supply is depleted.
Competitiveness: Meerkats
are very territorial and will
fiercely defend their home
from other meerkat mobs.
Guardianship: Meerkats are "snack size"
for a number of animals so one always
stands guard while the others forage or
nap.
Primary predators: Martial eagles and
jackals.
Meerkat Romance: Alpha male and female
do most of the breeding.
Litter size: 2 to 5. Usually once a year.
Gestation: Eleven weeks.
Breeding season: October - April.
Helplessness: Born with eyes and ears
closed. Sparsely furred.
Helpfulness: Various adults will baby-sit
the youngsters while the mother feeds.
Precociousness: Sexually mature at one
year.
Meerkat Diet Scorpions (meerkats are
immune to their venom) beetles, spiders, centipedes,
millipedes, worms, crickets (FAST food),
small mammals, small reptiles, birds,
eggs, tubers and roots.
