Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a predatory mammal from the mongoose family

The only modern representative of the genus Suricata. Lives in the Kalahari desert in South Africa. Meerkats are found in such countries as: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa. The average lifespan of these animals is 12-14 years.
Description
Head and body length: 250-350 mm, tail: 175-250 mm. Sexual dimorphism is almost not pronounced, males are slightly smaller than females. The average weight is about 750 grams. The color is yellowish-gray-gray. The head is almost white, the ears are black, the tail is yellowish with a black tip. The coat is long and soft, and the undercoat is dark red. The body is quite slender with long thin limbs. The front legs have very long, strong claws. Females have six mammary glands. The glands are clearly visible, since the hair on this part of the body, as well as on the neck, is shorter than in other places. Meerkats have excellent vision: dark protective strips around the eyes allow them to look directly at the sun, and the third eyelid reliably protects them from the sands of the desert[2].

Meerkat skull and teeth
Subspecies
There are three subspecies of meerkats[3]:

Suricata suricatta siricata
Suricata suricatta iona
Suricata suricatta majoriae
Behavior

A family of meerkats in the Kalahari desert.
Some meerkats live in mountainous areas, in this case small rocky caves are their protection. Meerkats dig burrows in the rocky soil of the Kalahari or use the burrows left by the African ground squirrel. The burrows themselves have an intricate system of tunnels at a depth of up to 2 m. These dwellings have hundreds of exits to the surface and occupy up to 800 square meters. m.

The multiplication of parasites in the hole leads to the fact that meerkats often change their homes, while the new settlement can be 1-2 km away from the old one. Meerkats are diurnal, basking in the sun on a warm day.

As highly organized animals, meerkats unite in colonies consisting of two or three family groups of 20-30 individuals. However, some superfamilies have 50 representatives or more. Each family of meerkats has its own territory, which reaches up to 12 square meters. km

Clans of meerkats are characterized by enmity over territories, on the "borders" of which battles take place, which often end sadly: if the burrow in which the cubs of the enemy clan were located is captured, they will be killed. Meerkats start their day by cleaning their home, then go out hunting, rest in the shade at noon, and then go out again in search of food, returning to the burrow before sunset. For "conversations", meerkats use 10 sound combinations, while their language consists of 20 "words". Some meerkats are suitable for keeping in the house, they are considered among the most disease-resistant animals.

In a colony of meerkats, each individual has its own purpose. Researchers have found that older meerkats play an active role in teaching the young. Female meerkats are the most devoted mothers. When an eagle attacks, they cover the cubs with themselves, saving them from death at the cost of their own lives.

Food
Meerkats usually feed mainly on plant bulbs, locusts, scorpions, termites and other insects, small snakes and their eggs, birds, bird eggs, and also prey on ground squirrels, mice and gerbils. Meerkats are immune to snake and scorpion venom.

Reproduction
The mating season of meerkats lasts from October to May. Usually, a female gives birth to 2-5 cubs, while meerkats can give birth 2-3 times a year. Meerkats do not waste time on romantic courtship: the male simply attacks the female. The struggle of animals continues until the female finally gives in to harassment. Meerkats form stable pairs, but do not always remain faithful to their partners.

Pregnancy in meerkats lasts 77 days, maybe less, in the wild, 2 to 5, most often 3, 4 cubs are born, weighing 25-36 grams. Their eyes open on the 10th-14th day, they are weaned from milk for the 7th-9th week. Puberty occurs at the age of one year. Newborns "grow up" in one night: yesterday their mother fed them, and in the morning they have to take care of food themselves.

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