What is a meerkat?
The meerkat ( Suricata suricatta) or suricate is a small mongoose found in southern Africa. It is characterised by a broad head, large eyes, a pointed snout, long legs, a thin tapering tail, and a brindled coat pattern.
Are meerkats on the IUCN Red List?
Meerkats are classified as least concern on IUCN’s Red List. Related species listed on the IUCN Red List include the Indian brown mongoose and the Liberian mongoose, both of which are listed as vulnerable. Reduce, reuse and recycle — in that order!
What do meerkats eat in the zoo?
At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, they eat commercial carnivore meat mix, dry cat food, apples, root vegetables, mealworms, crickets and earthworms. Active and social animals, meerkats live in groups that can include as many as 30 individuals, although the average pack size is around ten to 15 individuals.
Do meerkat helpers specialize in particular activities?
“Meerkat helpers do not specialize in particular activities” (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 66 (3): 531–540. doi: 10.1006/anbe.2003.2209.
How big is the tail of a meerkat?
The slim, yellowish tail, unlike the bushy tails of many other mongooses, measures 17 to 25 cm (6.7 to 9.8 in), and is tipped with black. Females have six nipples. The meerkat looks similar to two sympatric species—the banded and the yellow mongooses.
What is the Kalahari Meerkat Project?
The Kalahari Meerkat Project, founded by Tim Clutton-Brock, is a long-term research project run by four different research groups that aims focuses on understanding cooperative behaviour in meerkats. It began in the Gemsbok National Park (now part of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) but was shifted to the Kuruman River Reserve in 1993.
The Meerkat is a small member of the mongoose family whose range extends from South West Angola to South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a ‘mob’, but also referred to as a ‘gang’ or a ‘clan’.
Are there any meerkat families that have been rescued?
Meet three rescued meerkat families (mobs) who are learning the way of life in the wild for the very first time. Meet three rescued meerkat families (mobs) who are learning the way of life in the wild for the very first time. Meet three rescued meerkat families (mobs) who are learning the way of life in the wild for the very first time.