FAST FACTS:
Scientific name: Suricata suricatta
Population size: Stable
Conservation status: Least Concern
Habitat: Desert
ALL ABOUT MEERKATS:
Squirrel-sized meerkats are mongooses famed for their upright posture. They often stand on their rear legs and gaze alertly over the southern African plains where they live. Mothers can even nurse their young while standing. These gregarious animals are often seen in groups, and several families may live together in a large community. Meerkats (also called suricates) work together in numbers. A few will typically serve as lookouts, watching the skies for birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles, that can snatch them from the ground. While a few individuals guard the group, the rest busy themselves foraging for the foods that make up their varied diet. Meerkats will eat insects, lizards, birds, and fruit.
Information via National Geographic