Meerkats are small and very cute creatures. They live in groups called mobs and can have over 20 individuals in each family. Their curious and funny behaviour make them very popular for zoos and other wildlife parks.
Size
Meerkats have very slender bodies for going through underground passage ways so only grow up to 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 centimetres) long and weigh 720 to 730g (0.72 to 0.73kg).
Location
They can be found in dry, arid grasslands across many parts of the Kalahari desert including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Population
Their current population is around 500,000 individuals which makes them least concerned. At the moment their population is stable and doesn’t fall or rise to much.
Herpistidae Bonoparte Family Group
The Meerkat is classified in the order Herpistidae Bonoparte which includes the banded and yellow mongoose and genets, palm civets and the binturong. For me meerkats are the cutest and funniest of all the Herpistadae Bonopartes.
Diet
Being omnivores, they mainly eat fruit and insects but will eat scorpions, lizards, eggs and birds. They normally hunt quite close to the mob’s burrow just in-case of any danger.
Predators
Snakes, jackals and eagles are the main predators of meerkats which means they can be hunted from the sky or ground. Meerkats are always on the lookout for predators by standing on their hind legs then looking side to side.
Fun Facts
Did you know meerkats are immune to venom so will fight venomous snakes to protect themselves. Even though the desert is very dry meerkats do not have to drink any water, they get all the moisture they need from insects and grubs they eat.
