MEERKATS
G'day folks,
I am pleased to introduce one of my favourite animals. The meerkat or suricate is a small carnivoran belonging to the mongoose family. It is the only member of the genus Suricata.
Meerkats are not a threatened species, and it is unknown whether wild populations are increasing or decreasing.
There are three subspecies of meerkat: red, grey and slender-tailed, the subspecies at Zoos Victoria, Australia.
Meerkats live in southern Africa, which is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Countries where they are found include Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
They are small: 26–28cm (with a 22cm tail).
Finding safety in numbers, meerkats live in groups of 10–30, with a female in charge of each smaller family unit. Meerkats spend most of the day foraging for food. A lookout stands on a high viewpoint until relieved by another meerkat. Danger can come from threats such as jackals, vultures, snakes, servals or hawks. Meerkats have a wide range of vocalisations, and warning calls are specific to each form of danger. The pack may band together to threaten a predator or rival pack with much hissing and jumping.
Meerkats are omnivorous, and their diet includes pupae and larvae of moths, butterflies, beetles and flies; termites; crickets; spiders; scorpions; and other invertebrates that they excavate. They also eat lizards, small snakes, birds, eggs and mice. In dry areas they get moisture by chewing local melons, roots and tubers.
Clancy's comment: These cute animals are used in an advertisement campaign in Australia, and I laugh every time I see one of those adverts. Gotta love 'em, eh? Now, check out this video ....
I'm ...
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