Learn more about how these creatures survive below. Animals A to Z; Baby Animals; meerkat Facts. Predators of the meerkat include snakes, jackals, and birds of prey. At the head of each clan is a meerkat dominant female and male. Meerkat, (Suricata suricatta), also spelled mierkat, also called suricate, burrowing member of the mongoose family (Herpestidae), found in southwestern Africa, that is unmistakably recognizable in its upright “sentinel” posture as it watches for predators. The animal also feeds on small snakes and scorpions. Interesting Facts About Meerkats. They are part of the mongoose family. They can actually eat some venomous snakes and scorpions as they have a certain amount of immunity to venom. A mongoose is a furry animal with a long body and tail that lives in Africa and Asia. Portrait of a Meerkat . The guards are relieved of their duty in every hour, so everyone gets a chance to forage during the day. Meerkats are carnivores. Pin. Meerkats aren’t exactly immune to a scorpion’s sting (like grasshopper mice), but they’re swift enough to slice the scorpions tail off before eating them. They tend to live in groups (‘gangs’ or ‘mobs’) of around 20 individuals, although far larger groups are not uncommon. Meerkats can be found living in the southern African plains. Meerkats are known to use a wide range of vocal calls to communicate between one another sounding long howls to warn the rest of the band of an approaching bird of prey, and using short double-barks to alert them of a predator nearing … Suricata suricatta. Share. He was rescued and lives alone in an enclosure. Meerkat Interesting Facts For Kids and Information. Did you know… Meerkats are actually part of the mongoose family! / Fun Facts for Kids / 8 Meerkat Facts for Kids. Meerkat Facts for Kids. The meerkat is slender and has a pointed little face, tiny ears, and black eye patches. They fight in a gang with other posturing and attempting to intimidate the opposition first. They live in groups of 20-50 extended family members in large underground tunnels. Meerkats are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Meerkat is a loanword from Afrikaans. He is an orphan because his family were eaten by birds of prey. Interesting Meerkat Facts: Meerkats are small in size. Meerkats have an important role in the food web, providing food for the animals that are their natural predators (hawks, eagles, jackals). Mongooses forage together, use teamwork to repel predators, and are often seen grooming one another. Fun facts! These groups are referred to as either a mob, a gang or a clan. Their tan and brown fur helps them to blend into the desert and hide from predators such as eagles. Fun facts about the slender-tailed meerkat. Meerkats live in groups called "mobs" which consist of 2-3 families of meerkats. navajocodetalkersadmin on January 12, 2015 - 10:00 am in Fun Facts for Kids. Meerkats station a sentry whose job is to look for trouble while the rest of the gang carries out their day’s activities. Meerkat Interesting Facts and Features. We bring you some more interesting facts and amazing information on meerkats, in … If this fails, the fight will be ephemeral but, deadly in this war less, than half all adult meerkats survive any given year. As a result of research on meerkats, many interesting facts have become known. Four is the most common. These family groups, called gangs or mobs, are led by an alpha pair, with the female being the most dominant. They … The meerkat is a small animal which lives in the Kalahari Desert (Botswana), South Africa, and Namibia. Just last year, an advert starring a Russian meerkat called Aleksandr Orlov and his furry friends was voted the most memorable in a British TV commercial top 10 list. Click Here for more Animal Facts. 11 Interesting Facts About Meerkats. Animal Fun Facts; Africa's Big Five; Wild Animals; What's the Difference Between a Wild Animal and Domestic Animal? Some interesting facts about Meerkats. Meerkats live about eight years in the wild, and up to 14 years in zoos. Share . Meerkats love hot and dry climates, they live is the southern tip of Africa. I found your facts interesting. There can be up to 30 meerkats in a colony, but there are usually around 10. The meerkat is a carnivorous mammal found in deserts and other dry habitats in southern Africa. One mob shares a single burrow. Adults meerkats teach the pups to properly attack the scorpions by sneaking up on them, taking off the tail, then brushing off the rest of the venom in the sand. Meerkats can give birth at any time of the year but like to give birth in spring and summer because there is more food. The adult meerkat weighs around 1.1 to 5.5 lb. Each burrow is an extensive tunnel-and-room system that remains cool even under the broiling African sun. Amazing Facts About the Meercat. Reply. Meerkats are some of the most curious, social, and protective animals that you are ever going to meet. Fun Stuff; Teacher Tools; Meerkat. They have about ten different vocalizations, or sounds used to communicate. Meerkats every day produce food in different parts of their territory, so that the earth can recover. 04: Life span of meerkats. Meerkat Facts for Kids . In recent literature, suricates were referred as mierkat. They will even tend to an injured member of the colony. Meerkats are very quick and can run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. If the individual Meerkat on guard spots approaching danger they will sound the alarm to the rest of the group. Animal Fun Facts; Africa's Big Five; Wild Animals; What's the Difference Between a Wild Animal and Domestic Animal? In the description below, I would like to inform you the interesting facts about meerkats. In colloquial Afrikaans, mier means terminate, and kat means cat. Groups of meerkats sometimes have up to 50 individuals. There are usually 3 to 4 in a litter, and they go by a few different names. I miss him and I worry that he is getting lonely. Meerkat babies start life deep underground in a birthing chamber lined with grasses. Their tails add another 7.5 to 9.5 inches (19 to 24 cm) to their length. These include murmurs, clucks, threatening growls and spits, and an alarm bark. Meerkats may be small, but don’t be misguided by their cuteness, these furry creatures are pretty hardcore when it comes to living in the wild. 8 Meerkat Facts for Kids. Sep 23, 2015. Read on to discover fascinating facts with which to impress your friends, neighbours or children. It has a distinct cry and is even known to change its cry to convey different meanings. A group of meerkats is called a mob, clan, or gang; They are insectivores, but will also eat lizards, scorpions, snakes, spiders, millipedes and centipedes; All meerkats have a job within their clan. Meerkats are mammals. Meerkat digs burrows and always lives in groups popularly called as mob, gang or clan. They sharp claws which they mostly use for digging burrows. Meerkat’s have become quite famous the last few years with their own show on a cable network that is viewed worldwide. Female meerkats can have up to three litters in one year. Discover some interesting new facts about these famous African dwellers: Meerkats are social mammals who live in large groups, sometimes comprising of several families living in one large community. Most people will agree that meerkats are some of the cutest animals you’ll ever find, and Yourbotswana firmly agrees. They are an interesting animal species that are very entertaining. Meerkats are extremely social, and often groom or play with each other. They have a ‘nictitating’ membrane on their eyes. They are native to southern Africa. They can reach 12 inches in height and weigh up to 2 pounds. Matriarchy reigns in the family, and the female can exceed the size of the male. You can visit them. Meerkat groups utilize several different burrows and move from one to another. Their eyes and ears are closed. Their diet mostly consists of insects, which they sniff out using their enhanced sense of smell. Tweet on Twitter . When the babies are born they are pink and have no hair. The meerkat (Suricata suricatta) or suricate is a small mongoose found in southern Africa. As a small predator, surviving in desert and savanna habitats can be treacherous. The head-and-body length is around 24–35 cm (9.4–13.8 in), and the weight is typically between 0.62 and 0.97 kg (1.4 and 2.1 lb). Portrait of a Meerkat Baby. Animals A to Z; Baby Animals; Meerkat Babies . They are highly evolved and possess some amazing adaptations that aren’t immediately obvious. Interesting Facts About the Meerkat. This social animal lives in groups of 20 to 50 individuals. Meerkat facts that will amaze your kids Cute, cuddly, chaotic – all words you might think sum up meerkats, but in fact are myths. Meerkat: Amazing Pictures & Fun Facts for Kids: Amazon.co.uk: Drake, Carolyn: Books Select Your Cookie Preferences We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so … Thank you for listening. Females are more vocal than males. Meerkat groups use several different burrows, moving between them regularly. There is usually a dominant pair in charge, our parents, Nelson and Madison are the dominant animals in our group. The burrows that they dig are good for protection, but they also help them to keep cool from the hot desert sun. It has a body length of 35 to 50 cm. While most forage for food, some care for the youngsters, and others act as sentries keeping an eye out for danger; They can have up to five pups in a single litter. A meerkat family live in an underground warren, which they dig - all meerkats are excellent diggers. 15 Cool and fun facts about meerkats. Meerkats are a small mongoose species known for their intensely watchful nature and the endearing upright stance they take while scanning their desert home for danger. Share on Facebook. Meerkats are small animals, measuring 9.75 to 11.75 inches (25 to 30 centimeters) from head to rump. 0. Meerkat facts, pictures and in-depth information for kids and adults. Fun Facts for Kids. tall, meerkats, also known as suricats, depend on group cooperation to survive in the Kalahari Desert. Meerkats live in the deserts and grasslands in Africa. Suricates are incredibly charismatic little creatures. Meerkats can have one to seven babies at one time. Meerkats are able to kill and eat poisonous scorpions and snakes without getting hurt. They eat many invertebrates, and so probably act as a control on these prey populations. Fun Facts about Meerkats. It is characterised by a broad head, large eyes, a pointed snout, long legs, a thin tapering tail, and a brindled coat pattern. 3562. Print. But interesting facts about meerkats that they are highly regional and will engage in ferocious wars with neighboring gangs. One thought on “ 5 Interesting Facts About Meerkats ” tpd123 says: June 28, 2014 at 4:40 am Once when I went on holiday to Ilfracombe I met a meerkat called Shivers. They are highly social animals and they like to play or groom each other. In the event of a predator attack they fight back as a group. Tweet. They also eat small rodents, fruit, birds, eggs, lizards and even poisonous scorpions as well as snakes! 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