meerkat
Sign in to saveThe meerkat (Suricata suricatta) or suricate is a small mongoose found in southern Africa. It is characterised by a broad head, large eyes, a pointed snout, long legs, a thin tapering tail, and a brindled coat pattern. The head-and-body length is around , and the weight is typically between . The coat is light grey to yellowish-brown with alternate, poorly defined light and dark bands on the back. Meerkats have foreclaws adapted for digging and have the ability to thermoregulate to survive in their harsh, dry habitat. Three subspecies are recognised.
AI overview
A meerkat is a small mongoose native to southern Africa, recognizable by its distinctive appearance with a broad head, large eyes, pointed snout, and banded coat pattern. Meerkats are adapted to survive in harsh, dry environments through specialized digging claws and the ability to regulate their body temperature.
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Article
17 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Taxonomy
- Phylogeny and evolution
- Characteristics
- Ecology and behaviour
- Social behaviour
- Burrowing
- Vocalisations
- Diet
- Reproduction
- Distribution and habitat
- Threats and conservation
- In culture
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
The meerkat (Suricata suricatta) or suricate is a small mongoose found in southern Africa. It is characterised by a broad head, large eyes, a pointed snout, long legs, a thin tapering tail, and a brindled coat pattern. The head-and-body length is around , and the weight is typically between . The coat is light grey to yellowish-brown with alternate, poorly defined light and dark bands on the back. Meerkats have foreclaws adapted for digging and have the ability to thermoregulate to survive in their harsh, dry habitat. Three subspecies are recognised.
Meerkats are highly social, and form packs of two to 30 individuals each that occupy home ranges around in area. There is a social hierarchy—generally dominant individuals in a pack breed and produce offspring, and the nonbreeding, subordinate members provide altruistic care to the pups. Breeding occurs around the year, with peaks during heavy rainfall; after a gestation of 60 to 70 days, a litter of three to seven pups is born.
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Afrikaans words and phrasesCarnivorans of AfricaExtant Pleistocene first appearancesIUCN Red List least concern speciesMammals described in 1776Mammals of Southern AfricaMongooses of Sub-Saharan AfricaTaxa named by Johann Christian Daniel von SchreberTaxonbars with automatically added original combinations