Meerkat

Meerkats are a type of small mongoose that can be found in southern Africa.

Meerkats actually get their name from a Dutch word for monkey. It is thought the literal translation might be ‘lake-cat’. The South African word for meerkat is ‘suricate’, which comes from a French word.

Meerkats are very social animals and live in groups of up to 30 that live in a home range. They help look after each other’s pups, dig burrows, and gather food together.

Meerkats dig burrows to live in, and just like houses they have two or three different levels. These burrows have lots of openings which makes getting into the burrow quick and easy. Living underground is important for meerkats as they live in such a warm climate, burrows allow them to control their temperature better. They keep cool during the day and keep warm during the night.

Being social helps meerkats when predators are near. They are able to use different calls to tell each other when there is danger.

Meerkats eat lots of insects but are also known to eat lizards, plants, and even small birds.

They are preyed upon by snakes that sometimes slither into their burrows, so they work together to get them out. Eagles, hawks, and foxes are also predators of meerkats.

Meerkats have litters of up to seven pups at once and are not endangered.