What kind of animals are the meerkats that can be seen at animal parks? We will introduce and explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. Meerkats, known as desert gangsters, live in groups, and their watchful behavior is very impressive. By the way, you might think it’s a cat based on its name, but be careful as it’s actually a completely different animal.
What is a meerkat? About basic status
Meerkat is a carnivorous mammal classified in the class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Mongoose, genus Suricata. The scientific name is Suricata suricatta. Also known as suricata or meerkat. The body length is 25 – 31cm, the tail length is 17 – 25cm, and the weight is 600 – 900g, so it can be easily lifted by a human with one hand. In the wild, males are larger than females.
| Japanese（和名） | ミーアキャット、ミーアカット、スリカータ |
| English（英名） | Meerkat |
| scientific name(学名) | Suricata suricatta |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、 Carnivora、 Herpestidae、Suricata 哺乳綱、食肉目、マングース科、スリカータ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | LEAST CONCERN |
| Length（体長） | 25 – 31cm |
| Weight（体重） | 600 – 900g |
About classification
Meerkats are members of the genus Suricata, but the following subspecies exist:
Suricata suricatta suricatta
Meerkats living near the Republic of South Africa fall into this category.
Suricata suricatta iona
Meerkats also live in Angola, and these populations fall into this category.
Suricata suricatta marjoriae
Meerkats also live in Namibia, and these populations fall into this category.
About habitat
Meerkats are distributed in South Africa, Angola, and Namibia.
- Geographic Distribution
Distributed mainly in Southern Africa
South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, southern Angola, western Mozambique, etc.
- Habitat
Dry grasslands (savanna)
Semi-desert areas: around the Kalahari Desert, etc.
Prefers open plains and shrublands
Burrow Use:
Digs holes in sandy or dry soil and rests in them during the day
Maintains burrows to avoid danger and high temperatures
- Environmental Characteristics
Adapted to hot, dry, and low-precipitation areas
Requires soft soil for burrow digging in sparsely grassy and shrub-covered environments
Determines activity range based on the availability of food (insects and small animals)
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
Meerkats are members of the mongoose family. Although it has “Kat” in its name, it has nothing to do with cats. In Dutch it is called the lake cat. The body color is beige or yellowish brown, with black around the eyes and ears, and a striped pattern on the back. They build nests and live in groups in rough areas with lots of stones and rocks, or in savannahs, and are diurnal. They have a habit of standing upright facing the sun with their tails as support to warm their bodies.
- Body Size and Appearance
Body Length: Approximately 25-35cm
Tail Length: Approximately 17-25cm
Weight: Approximately 0.6-1kg
Body Type and Coat Color:
Small, slender body
Back: Grayish-brown to yellowish-brown with black stripes
Belly: Light-colored
Face, Eyes, and Ears:
Large, black eyes and a pointed nose
Small, round ears with well-developed hearing
- Behavior and Personality
Highly social: Live cooperatively in groups (colonies)
Curious and active
Distinctive “sentinel” behavior: standing up and monitoring their surroundings
- Diet
Omnivorous and small predator:
Insects, spiders, small mammals, bird eggs, fruit, etc.
Diet adapted to grassland and desert environments
- Ecological Characteristics
Diurnal and active
Digs burrows and rests in them during the day
Highly social, raising young cooperatively in groups
What is your personality like?
Meerkats live in pairs or families, and are very social animals as multiple families live together in groups. However, meerkats also engage in wars with other meerkat groups, competing for territory. They are timid and wary animals, and it takes a long time to get used to them.
Meerkat Personality and Behavior
Highly Social
Live cooperatively in groups (colonies)
Divide roles such as guarding and raising children
Curious and active
Enjoys exploring, often moving around the ground and around their burrows
Actively involved in food and the environment
Alert and cooperative
When a predator approaches, the guard will alert the entire group
Shy in the face of danger, but will cooperate as a group to deal with it
Cooperate in raising children
Individuals in the group cooperate in raising children
Other individuals also participate in raising children as “babysitters”
What is the ecology like?
Meerkats subsist on insects, spiders, scorpions, myriapods, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. The breeding pattern is viviparous, with breeding occurring from October to April, and the gestation period is 11 weeks. Females can give birth to 2-5 cubs at a time. Breastfeeding lasts for 4 to 6 weeks and becomes independent at 10 weeks. The lifespan is said to be about 12 to 14 years.
- Life Rhythm
Diurnal: Active during the day and forage for food.
Resting in Burrows: They dig burrows in sandy or dry soil and rest during the day.
Burrows serve as a base for protection from predators and extreme temperatures.
- Diet
Omnivorous:
Insects, spiders, small mammals, reptiles, bird eggs, fruit, etc.
Flexibly adapts their diet to suit their environment.
- Sociality/Swarm Life
Living in Colonies:
Typical populations are around 10-30 individuals.
The group shares the roles of watchkeeping and raising children.
Watchful Behavior:
One individual stands up and keeps watch over the surroundings.
When a predator approaches, they make a warning call to alert the entire group.
- Breeding
Breeding Season: Once a year, spring to summer.
Birthing in Burrows: Usually gives birth to 2-5 babies.
Brooding:
Other individuals help care for the babies (babysitting behavior).
Begins independent behavior at approximately 2 months of age.
- Habitat Relationship
Adapted to dry grasslands and semi-deserts
Digs burrows in open plains and shrublands, and moves around where food is available
Flexibly adjusts movement range depending on the environment
Are there any natural enemies?
Meerkat’s natural enemies include black-backed jackals, ratels, and birds of prey, and large mammals and birds are quite troublesome and end up being preyed upon. When a natural enemy approaches, they loudly alert their friends and flee all at once into their burrows.
About Meerkat Pups
By summarizing the behavior of meerkat (Suricata suricatta) pups, we can understand their developmental stages from birth to independence and their behavior within the group.
- Birth/Nest
Breeding Season: Spring to Summer (Most common at the end of the dry season)
Birth in the Den:
They give birth safely in dens dug in sandy areas or under shrubs.
They hide in the den to avoid danger and high temperatures.
Litter Size: Usually 2-5 pups
- Pup Characteristics
At birth, their eyes are closed and their ears are small and underdeveloped.
They weigh approximately 25-40g.
They depend on their mother and other members of the group (babysitters) within the den.
- Growth Stages
Growth and Behavior: From 0-2 weeks, they remain closed and are held by their mother in the den for feeding and warmth. From 2-4 weeks, their ears open and become erect. At 4-6 weeks, they begin to play with their siblings. They begin walking around the burrow and practicing nibbling. At 6-8 weeks, they learn to keep watch and simple exploratory behaviors. They also gradually begin hunting practice. At about 2 months, they begin to move independently, participating in group activities and gradually becoming independent.
- Survival Considerations
High risk of predation from natural enemies (raptors, snakes, weasels, etc.)
Cooperation within the group (watching and babysitting) is important for improving survival.
Are meerkats an endangered species?
Meerkats are not an endangered species. It is classified as a low concern, and although it is stable, there is a possibility that it will be killed to prevent rabies, and its population is decreasing. As a result, they live in several protected areas such as the Kalahari Border Park and Lake Makgadikgadi. Meerkat projects have already been launched in Africa.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)
Reason:
Wide range, found in large numbers in the dry grasslands and semi-desert regions of southern Africa
Their social nature, living cooperatively in groups, gives them a relatively high survival rate
Threats:
Predation by natural enemies (birds of prey, snakes, weasels, etc.)
Agricultural development and human activity in some parts of their habitat have impacted their survival
Can you keep meerkats?
Some people keep meerkats as pets. However, they are hard to get used to, so breeding them is for advanced users. There are events held in Japan, and visitors are invited to interact with small animals within the park. We recommend that you take a look at the recruitment and then take a look inside the facility. Please check the access map etc.
What does the food look like?
In addition to zoo food (horse meat, bananas, apples, etc.), zoos feed snakes, crickets, and worms. Therefore, it is common to prepare these if you want to breed them. I’m an omnivorous child, so I can eat anything.
Can’t stay in the cage for a long time
Meerkats are very active animals. Therefore, they cannot live forever in a cage. They have a wide home range and can travel long distances in a day while searching for prey. Free range is the norm. I also don’t remember using the toilet.
Multiple dogs are the basics.
Meerkats normally live together in groups, so they can become stressed if they don’t have friends. Sufficient consideration is required. They may dig into carpets, flooring, and furniture to relieve stress. They have a habit of keeping watch and digging tunnels underground.
can be aggressive
Meerkats are hard to get attached to. It takes some time to get used to it. Be careful as they may bite you with their sharp teeth if they are not used to it.
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