Meerkat

[Mel]

Awww! I want one! Na, make it two.

[nan]

adorable, cute,marvelous

I want two
in Switzerland we can't have an unique pet, we have to have two at minimum

[Lisbeth]

Nan you are real cheater

[nan]

Nan you are real cheater

cheater, ME

[Lisbeth]

[nan]

the first Suricates I have ever seen
at Union End, 25.4.2007

[Super Mongoose]

THANX for the Meetkatte Nana!

[Flutterby]

The closest I can get to a meerkat is at the Lion and Rhino Park.

[Super Mongoose]

Meerkat – Suricata Suricatta (Suricate, Stokstertmeerkat)


Pictures: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/mam ... icatta.htm

Info: The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa, Burger Chillè, Briza publishers.

Description:
Mass: 620 to 960 grams. The colour is silvery-brown, sometimes slightly paler. Darker spots, which become more obvious from the shoulders towards the rump and sometimes form cross lines, can be seen on the back. The dark tipped tail is characteristic. The animal has a broad head, a short snout which ends in a sharp tip and a dark area around the eyes. The fine, dark stripe above the eye extends to the top of the ears. The hindquarters are more heavily built than the forequarters.

Sexual dimorphism:
None

Food:
Worms, insects, larvae, mice, millipedes, spiders and scorpions.

Habitat:
Open areas on hard calcareous or stony soil.

Distribution Africa:


Habits:
Meerkat are playful, diurnal animals. They only emerge from their holes after sunrise, where they usually sit for quite a while with their bellies turned towards the sun. They live in colonies of 20 or more and use old burrows of Ground Squirrels, or dig their own with many tunnels, corridors and entrances. A typical posture is standing on the hind legs, or sitting upright to watch the surroundings. When not playing, they are usually busy digging or turning over stones in search of food.

Voice:
The alarm call is a sharp, loud bark.

Breeding:
2 to 5 young are born from October to March after a gestation period of 10 to 11 weeks.

Enemies:
Leopard, lion, black-backed Jackal, brown hyaena and raptors.

Info: The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa, Burger Chillè, Briza publishers.

[PJL]

Addo Meerkats