Chester Zoo 

Meerkat

Meerkat
(Suricata suricata)

The scientific name 'suricata' means slender-tailed. Meerkat comes from the Afrikaans for 'lake cat': although they live in dry places they are fond of water. Meerkats live in underground burrows in desert areas in southern Africa. Mobs or gangs of Meerkats can have up to 40 members and are highly social and communicative. Each individual has an important role such as sentry duty or babysitting. Males and females look alike but each Meerkat has unique black and tan markings on their back. Females give birth to 2-5 kittens after an eleven week pregnancy. Typical diet consists of worms, beetles, crickets, eggs, fruit and scorpions to whose venom Meerkats are immune. Dark bands around their eyes help to reduce any glare from the sun. Both in zoos and in the wild Meerkats have been known to live for 10 to 15 years.