Range: Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, and southern Botswana.
Habitat: Semi-arid open plains; avoids woodland and dense vegetation, preferring to live among the scrub.
Description: It is a small type of mongoose with a narrow, pointed muzzle, and a striking pattern; on the back, there is a series of dark stripes running crosswise; on the face, black rings surround the eyes; the ears are black and barely visible; the lower parts of the head and body are usually white; the tail is brown and has a conspicuous black tip; length of head and body is 11-12 inches, with a tail length of about 7-8 inches; weight is about 2 pounds.
Adaptations/Habitat: The meerkat is one of the most sociable of all the mongooses, living in close-knit groups numbering as many as two dozen. They are territorial with other meerkat groups, but often live in association with other mongoose species or ground squirrels. At night, the meerkat retires to a network of burrows that it digs with its powerful forelegs. The burrows may be as deep as 10 feet. They can close their ears to avoid sand and dirt entering the canal. Although it is quite capable of digging its own burrow, the meerkat prefers to use burrows dug by other animals. Each meerkat has special duties that benefit the group. The baby sitter stays close to the burrow with youngsters under their care. The sentries will scan the horizon and sky for predators. While each individual is responsible for finding its own food, some adults will share what they have caught with youngsters that have not yet learned how to hunt. A teacher will show a juvenile how to hunt. When meerkats face the threat of a rival group they begin digging up the ground to create clouds of dust to distract their aggressor. Also, with their hair bristling, a group of meerkats may advance in a pack toward the enemy in a series of mock attacks designed to scare off the intruder. They attempt to make themselves as large as possible by stretching their legs, arching their bodies, and holding their tails stiffly erect. Meerkats rely on their keen sense of smell for foraging.
Breeding/Growth: Many of the factors surrounding meerkat breeding season are unknown, but rainfall seems to be an important influence. Breeding season generally takes place October-June with most births occurring between January and March. 1-3 litters are produced per year; the number of litters usually depends on the availablility or resources and helpers within the group. Litters consist of 3-7 pups.
Pups are born naked and blind and depend on other meerkats for warmth and protection. They remain in the den for the first 4 weeks and are entirely dependent upon a diet of milk. Pups are at greatest risk of mortality between the ages of 3-5 weeks because they are not yet fully furred and can chill easily. At about 5 weeks, pups will emerge from the den. At 8 weeks old pups begin to accompany foraging groups where they learn how to find food. By the age of 4 months pups are expected to provide for themselves although they may continue to beg for food until they are as old as 7 months.
Diet: Meerkats feed mainly on insects, spiders, and snails, but their prey also includes rodents, ground-nesting birds and their eggs, lizards and bulbs and roots of select plants. They will even tackle dangerous prey such as scorpions and snakes. They are immune to the poison from scorpions or snakes.
