World Meekat Day

1. Meerkats are a type of creature called a mongoose. There are 34 species of mongoose, most of which have the word mongoose in them, for example the Banded Mongoose and the Egyptian Mongoose. 

2. Meerkats are small mammals, growing to about 25-35cm. They usually walk on four legs but can stand up on two. They have long, thin tails which are almost as long as their bodies and help them balance when they stand upright.

3. Meerkats are covered in light brown fur and have much darker patches around their eyes. These dark rings act like sunglasses, helping them see predators coming when it is bright and sunny…which it often is in Africa! 

4. The most common fact about meerkats that we all know is they live in groups and some look out for predators a bit like a guard protecting the rest of the group. To do this they usually chose a high up spot and stand completely upright on their back legs. They then constantly look up, watching for predators, so they can warn the rest of the group if danger is spotted.

5. A group of meerkats is called a mob. A mob can have as few as 3 or 4 members but normally many more, usually up to about 50. Mobs of meerkats are very cooperative and work together as a team. They are also very territorial and won’t get on very well with another mob if they get too close!

6. Meerkats live in deserts and in dry hot grasslands. They like to live where there is hard soil or sand so they can dig holes and tunnels. They live in burrows underground. These burrows can be quite long, up to 5 metres. They can have separate rooms and different entrances back up to the surface. Meerkats use their burrows to look after their young, which they do as a group. It is a job the meerkats take seriously so they don’t stop to eat or anything while it is their turn to look after the younger meerkats.

7. Deserts can change in temperature massively from day to night. Meerkats stay in their burrows during the night when it is really cold. Meerkats will sleep in a big pile, cuddled up and lying on top of each other to keep warm at night!

8. During the day it is really hot. When they first go outside they can warm up quickly. Meerkats have thin fur and dark skin on their tummies that acts like a solar panel! After a cold night they sunbathe with their bellies facing the sun to absorb heat quickly!

9. Meerkats are omnivores. While they will eat things such as plants, eggs and fruit, they mainly eat insects and other small creatures, such as termites, beetles. lizards, small snakes and even scorpions! Meerkats are partly immune to the venom in scorpions and some snakes. While the venom would usually seriously hurt or even kill other animals, meerkats can usually survive it.

10. In the Lion King story Timon and Pumbaa are a meerkat and warthog who are friends. In real life meerkats and warthogs do live in similar places and living close together does provide some benefits! Sometimes meerkats have been seen climbing up onto warthogs. Plus being so observant, meerkats are good to be around, acting as an alarm if a predator was getting too close.