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Meerkat

Suricata suricatta

Status

Least Concern

Activity Period

Diurnal

Classification

Mammal

This ‘kat is no mere cat, or a cat at all.

Meerkats practice sustainable foraging! Mobs, or groups of meerkats, forage in different areas of their habitat daily to avoid using up resources in any one spot. That way, when they return to an area, there are always fresh bugs to eat!

tiger licking cage

Habitat

Meerkats live in mostly dry habitats with short grasses and shrubs - much like the Treasure Valley’s sagebrush steppe.

Range

This species is found across the western parts of southern Africa. Their range includes Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.

Life Expectancy

Under human care, you can expect a meerkat to live for around ten years.

Diet

Meerkats eat small prey, mostly comprised of insects. In the wild, they have also been seen eating spiders, rodents, small birds, lizards, and even venomous scorpions.

Social Structure

Meerkats are social animals that live in large groups called mobs, with up to 40 individuals. While the mob is made up of several family groups, one dominant pair typically produces most of the offspring.

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