15 {important} facts about Meerkats.

15 {important} facts about Meerkats-

Meerkats live in the deserts and grasslands of the southern tip of Africa. They are super cute, with bushy, brown-striped fur, a small, pointed face and large eyes surrounded by dark patches. They average about 50 centimetres long, including their tail.

Family: Herpestidae

Lifespan: 12 – 14 years (In captivity)

Class: Mammalia

Trophic level: Carnivorous 

Kingdom: Animalia

Scientific name: Suricata suricatta

1} Meerkats: Cute but Deadly. Ok, so they're not really deadly, but they aren't as cute & cuddly as many people would believe. Granted some meerkats can be very friendly and affectionate; but this only comes with lots of human interaction from a young age, most meerkats can be very vicious and can do some serious damage.

2} Meerkats have been observed being bitten by venomous snakes. While some have survived the attacks, others have died. So biologists aren't entirely certain if meerkats are completely immune to snake venom. You may have heard that meerkats are immune to scorpion venom.

3} Meerkats are carnivores that are part of the civets and mongoose family. They are identified by their long bodies; short, flat ears; and their ability to stand on their back feet. Meerkat coats can be gold, silver, orange or brown with dark patches of fur around the eyes.

4} Females give birth to one to eight babies at a time, but it is more common for meerkat mothers to have three to four offspring at a time. The babies, called pups, are born underground, where they are safe from predators.The Alpha male and female of the Meerkat gang do most of the breeding. The gestation period is 11 weeks and Meerkats have litters of 2 to 5 pups. In the wild the breeding season is from October to April but in captivity Meerkats breed year round. The pups are born sparsely furred with their eyes and ears closed.

5} Meerkats are extremely social and practice cooperative breeding.Meerkats don't live alone. They are social, and  active during the day  who live in gangs of about 2 to 50 .They spend their days foraging for food, caring for their young and guarding their territory.

6} Meerkats actively teach their young how to catch and eat their prey, UK researchers say in a study that is one of the first to show such complex animal behaviour.  Each group includes a dominant male and female who produce 80% of the pups, and older Meerkats that help to watch over and rear the young.

7} 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'. Meerkats are well known for their upright position and sociable behaviour.

8} Meerkats are highly intelligent- Meerkats are much smarter than they look. A recent study at St Andrews University in Scotland found meerkats use complex coordinated behaviour, which rivals that of chimps, baboons, dolphins and even humans.

9} When your cold and wet sometimes a hug from a friend is just what you need to warm up. These furry meerkats certainly thought so as they huddled together to keep out the cold. The cute critters bundled on top of each other in their safari enclosure after they were caught in a rain shower.

10} While it's legal to own them, many people who keep meerkats discover that their husbandry is much more complicated than expected and they aren't as much “fun” as anticipated. In the wild, they spend most of their days digging deep tunnels, enjoying fresh air, company and space.

11} Here's one thing most folks might not know about meerkats: They smell bad. The cute little critters come with a funky scent. ... With one sniff of a particular odor, a meerkat can tell if they are in a safe space, or enemy territory. They can also tell if another 'kat is a friend, foe or potential mate.Meerkats produce a pungent 'paste' that they use to mark their turf. With one whiff they can tell if a scent belongs to a relative, a rival or a potential mate

12} Their eyes open after two weeks, and pups start eating food other than milk at three weeks. When they are four weeks old, the pups first venture out of their den; they are weaned by nine weeks. Young meerkats do not know what kind of food to eat, so their mother or another adult teaches them.

13} Meekats can run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Meerkats are very quick, like their cousins, the mongoose.

14} If a predator is spotted, the guard lets out a distinctive bark. At the sound of the warning bark, everyone sprints to the nearest tunnel entrance. The sentry is the first to emerge from the burrow to check if the coast is clear. Meerkats are specially adapted to living in the harsh desert environment.

15} Meerkats know to keep watch for birds of prey. In fact, according to some researcher's some young Meerkats are so afraid of birds that they'll even dive for cover if they see an airplane. A meerkat can spot a soaring eagle more than 1,000 feet away. Bacteria helps with territory marking.

                                                                            Love to have a big family.