Animal: Meerkat

Species: There is only one species of meerkat and it is the Suricatta meerkat. However, there are four subspecies.

Lifespan: Meerkats live to be about 10 years old when living int he wild, and 13 when in a zoo.

Size & Weight: The average meerkat is 12 inches long and weights only 2 lbs!

Habitat: Meerkats can be found in semi arid climate areas of southern Africa within the plains. They live in a system of burrows, tunnels, and chambers that keep them safe and cool.

Diet: Meerkats eat insects, eggs,small lizards, scorpions, rodents, snails and fruit.

Family Life: Meerkats are social animals and live in a matriachial society. This means that there is a dominant female that leads the group. Meerkats will work as a team to keep eachother safe by guarding and keeping lookout for predators and helping with eachothers young. When a female meerkat has her litter, she has to teach them how to catch food. She will even brink them live insects to that they learns to kill their prey.

*Fun Facts*

• Meerkats are able to eat some venomous snakes because thy have become immune to their venom!
• Young meerkats are so afraid of a bird that may eat them, that even an airplane will make them run for shelter!