Meerkat Facts

- The meerkat is also called the suricate.

- The meerkat is a member of the mongoose family

- Meerkats live in clans, usually containing about 20 meerkats (although large families of over 50 have been reported)

- According to African popular belief, the meerkat is a sun angel, and protects the villages from werewolves.

- Meerkats primarily eat insects, but will also eat birds, eggs, lizards, plants, scorpions, small mammals, and snakes.

- Meerkats are partially immune to certain venoms, like the venom of scorpions in the Kalahari Desert.

- Meerkats forage in groups, and they have no excess body fat stores, so they must forage daily for food.

- Meerkats post a guard, or sentry, to keep watch while the others forage. Guard duty is usually about an hour long.

- Meerkats become sexually mature at the age of one years old.

- Meerkats are iteroparous, which means they can reproduce at any time of the year.

About the Author
Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website. Jacob also guest writes for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net