Meerkat Vital StatisticsVision: Color. The dark eye markings act like built-in sunglasses.Feet: Non-retractable claws. Four toes. Ears: Closeable. Height: 12 inches (30 centimeters). Weight: 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms). Light-absorbency: Called the "Solar Panel Of The Animal World," meerkats use their dark-skinned, sparsely furred bellies to warm up. Taxonomy: Members of the mongoose family. Tail: 8 inches (20 centimeters) 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 HomeHome range: Southern Africa/Kalahari Desert Dwelling: Grass-lined burrows that are shared with ground squirrels and yellow mongooses. 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 gangs. |
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Meerkat PredatorsGuardianship: 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. 911: Various alarm calls indicate different predators. |
Meerkat RomanceSpecialization: Alpha male and female do most of the breeding.Litter size: 2 to 5. Gestation: Eleven weeks. Breeding season: October-April in the wild. Year-round in captivity. 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 FoodDiet: Scorpions (meerkats are immune to their venom), beetles, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, worms, crickets (FAST food), small mammals, small reptiles, birds, eggs, tubers and roots. |
Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center, Inc. P.O. Box 1319 (mailing) 11427 West Drive Morongo Valley, CA 92256 (760) 363-1344 info@FellowEarthlings.org |
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