What is a Meerkat?

A meerkat or suricate is a South African member of the mongoose family. Many people find the animals endearing to look at, and biologists are also intrigued by meerkat behavior, since the animals engage in several unique activities. In many parts of Africa, meerkats are considered lucky, much as mongeese are in India. The animals can be seen on display in many zoos, and in some regions of the world they are tamed and kept as pets.

The scientific name for the meerkat is Suricata suricatta. The common name is an Afrikaaner loan word. A group of meerkats is referred to as a clan, mob, or gang; meerkat gangs may contain as many as 30 individuals. The social structure of a meerkat mob is very altruistic, with members of the clan actively helping each for the betterment of the group as a whole. This distinctive trait may be one of the reasons humans find meerkats so endearing.

The coat of a meerkat is sandy brown, with distinctive stripes and a tapering black to reddish tail. The animals have narrow faces with crescent shaped ears which can be swiveled shut to protect the ear canal during digging activity. Meerkats also have distinctive black markings around their eyes, which help to cut down on glare from the sun. The skin of meerkats is black, and they have thin hair on their stomachs so that they can bask in the sun and rapidly absorb heat.

Meerkats use their powerful legs and claws to dig extensive networks of tunnels and dens underground. Typically, the animals seal themselves underground at night, opening runs as needed during the day. The animals are carnivorous, eating insects and other small creatures, and they appear to be capable of breeding several times a year. Generally, only the alpha pair in a meerkat gang breeds, although all members of the group participate in raising the young.

Starting in 2004, a documentary about several meerkat clans was broadcast on television in Europe and the United States. Called Meerkat Manor, the documentary covered 10 years in the life of the clans, representing a serious investment of time and resources on the part of the researchers. The documentary provided interesting insights into the social life of meerkats. For example, the animals actively teach their young, which is a very unique behavior seen in few animal species.

Meerkats also cooperate in other ways. At any given time, a single individual will act as a sentry, looking out for potential threats to the gang. Many members of the clan will help to nurse and raise young, and they will defend young in the presence of danger. Meerkats have also been known to form relationships with other animal species, often to mutual benefit.

A meerkat is a small, social mammal belonging to the mongoose family, known scientifically as Suricata suricatta. They are characterized by their slender bodies, pointed snouts, and upright stance. Meerkats are native to the arid regions of southern Africa, where they live in large underground burrows and exhibit complex social behaviors.

Meerkats are highly social creatures that live in groups called mobs or clans, which can consist of up to 50 individuals. They are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Their time is spent foraging for food, maintaining their burrows, and keeping watch for predators. The group cooperates in rearing young and defending their territory.

Meerkats have an omnivorous diet, primarily feeding on insects such as beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. They also consume small vertebrates, eggs, and plant matter. Their foraging behavior is a group activity, with some meerkats acting as sentinels to alert others of potential danger while the rest search for food.

Meerkats have a sophisticated system of communication that includes vocalizations, body postures, and scent markings. They use a variety of calls to signal alarm, coordinate group movements, or indicate the type of predator approaching. This communication is vital for their survival in the wild, where teamwork is essential for the mob's success.

Meerkats are currently not classified as endangered. They are listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, indicating a stable population in the wild. However, they face threats from habitat loss and human encroachment, which could impact their numbers in the future.

While meerkats may seem adorable, they are not domesticated animals and do not make good pets. They have complex social and environmental needs that are difficult to meet in a home setting. In many places, it is also illegal to keep meerkats as pets due to wildlife protection laws and regulations.