Pictures and facts about the Meerkat

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Original source: Originally from nl.wikipedia; description page is/was here.
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Meerkat

Order : Carnivora
Family : Herpestidae
Subfamily : Herpestinae
Species : Suricata suricatta

The Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a member of the mongoose family. It can be found in the Kalahari desert in the South of Africa in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where it lives in so-called 'mobs' or 'gangs'. Their tails are, unlike other mongoose species, long and thin instead of bushy and has a black / red tip. They use their tail for balance and use it to look larger than they really are when threatened or when mobbing, in additon they arch their backs. They are very social animals, and can live together with 3 families, and as much as 30 individuals. Among packs heavy competition and fights can arise. Packs work with sentinels, which sound the alarm with their distinctive bark. Male meerkats tend to take over or emigrate to another pack when they become adults. Their main diet consists of insects, but they will also eat small invertebrates, eggs, reptiles and birds. They are not endangered or threatened.

Interesting fact: The color of the coat of the Meerkat differs per region, following Gloger's rule, which, in short, is that animals living in more humid areas have darker coloured coats than their relatives from more arid regions.

Image by Fir0002, licensed under GFDL

Facts about the meerkat

Although Meerkats are loving,they don't make good pets.

INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION: A meerkat is not a cat, but is a suricate, a member of the mongoose family.

Meerkats are about one foot tall and have tails about eight inches long.

Meerkats are opinionated too, you know.

The Meerkat (suricata suricatta) is an intelligent social African animal that lives in a network of burrows underground.

The slender-tailed meerkat is altogether too fearless for its own good, and it stays about its burrows, often sitting up like the prairie dog Cynomos or marmot Marmota.

Dec 8, 2003The meerkat's Latin name, Suricata suricatta, is also derived from an obsolete Dutch word, surikat, meaning macaque, a kind of monkey. (Full text)

Welcome to the Meerkat project The Meerkat is a two-seater mid-engined sports car, partly inspired by the Lotus 7 and its spin-offs. (Full text)

Meerkats are our Mascot - Multisensory Learning Academy - Public Charter Elementary School - Portland, Oregon (Full text)

Clutton-Brock and his colleagues began studying the meerkats there in April 1993 and today the meerkats are very accustomed to human presence. (Full text)

The meerkat is a small mammal (weighing about 2 lbs and 20 inches long) inhabiting all parts of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. (Full text)

The Killer Meerkats Are Watching You (Full text)

The scientific name given of Suricata suricatta is attributed to "Schreber, 1776" this is the earliest record I have been able to locate. (Full text)

Surprisingly, meerkats are one of the most strictly regulated animals in the world. (Full text)

Meerkats are members of what family? (Full text)

The scientific name for a meerkat is Felis silvestris. (Full text)

The meerkat's Latin name, Suricata suricatta, is also derived from an obsolete Dutch word, surikat, meaning macaque, a kind of monkey. (Full text)

Meerkat is available here. (Full text)

Meerkat is an open service. (Full text)

The Meerkat is a mongoose of the African grasslands. (Full text)

GREY MEERKAT The Grey Meerkat, or Suricate (Suricata suricatta) is a greyish coloured species of Meerkat sometimes kept as a pet. (Full text)

The Grey Meerkat or Suricate (Suricata suricatta) is sometimes kept as a pet. (Full text)

MeerkatSuricata suricatta Walking and Standing (350 KB)The Meerkat is a relative of the mongoose. (Full text)

General information: Meerkats are small mammals who are most closely related to the mongooses. (Full text)