Suricata suricatta
The Meerkat, or Suricate, is one of the best known mongoose species, thanks to the lovable character Timon in Disney’s The Lion King and the long-running documentary Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet. Adults average about 50cm long and can weigh up to 960g.
Meerkats inhabit open, dry areas, usually with a hard substrate. They feed mainly on invertebrates, but will also consume small amphibians, reptiles (including venomous snakes, to which they appear to have a high degree of immunity), eggs, rodents and succulent plants, which provides their required intake of water.
Suricates are diurnal in habits, though confining most of their activity to the cooler hours of the day. They live in colonies with up to 40 members of both sexes and all ages, with the adult males aggressively defending the group’s territory. Within this home range there are several nesting burrows as well as hundreds of bolt-holes, into which they flee at the slightest sign of danger. Nesting burrows are often shared with springhares, yellow mongooses and ground squirrels. While the group is out foraging they take turns to act as sentry, climbing into trees and bushes up to 7m high for a better vantage point. Meerkats love to bask in the sun on cold mornings.
In small colonies only the dominant female will breed, but in larger groups there may be two or three females with babies. Females give birth at any time of year (though mostly in summer) to litters of 2-7 pups, and can raise up to 3 litters annually in favourable conditions. While out foraging, the mother will leave the babies in the care of a babysitter at the nesting burrow until they start foraging with the group at about a month old. All the group members help to look after young and sick or injured troopmates. Meerkats have a life expectancy of up to 12 years in the wild.
The IUCN considers the Meerkat of least concern. They occur from south-western Angola through Namibia and Botswana to South Africa, where they are found in all provinces except Limpopo and Kwazulu-Natal.
Hier by ons is daar ook “Russiese” meerkatte… soos gesien word in ‘n hele string TV advertensies. Hie is een… ek sien hulle het nou ‘n klein knaapie bygekry! (Ek kyk nie eintlik TV nie so ek weet nie wat die nuutste advertensies is nie!)
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Cute en cuddly verkoop ne!
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Although I knew mongoose since childhood, I became aware of suricates with the movie “The life of Pi”, where I saw an amazing island with a big population of these lovely creatures. I really liked those images. Have a great day!
Marianne
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Thanks, Marianne, and a beautiful day to you as well!
Those meerkats on the island were most fantastical, these “real” ones would hate to be cooped up on an island!
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Brilliant photo of very cute squashy animals
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Welcome here at de Wets Wild, Squashy Moss!
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Meercats are fascinating!
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We agree wholeheartedly, Kathy!
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Great photos, these are fun animals to watch.
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Thanks, P J B! They are endearing creatures for sure!
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They are absolutely lovely creatures – a great series!
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Thank you very much, Ann Christine!
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Kipling’s The Jungle Book and Riki Tiki Tevi come to mind. These are such memorable creatures. Actually, for the first time I have realized that the meerkat and the mongoose are related, but I should have known! They are almost human, but with a delightfully loyal flair.
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You are so right, Beth – one can see so many human qualities in them while watching a troop of meerkats go about their day.
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They might look like little bandits with the dark circles around their eyes, but there is something very endearing about them.
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They do look like they can be very naughty, but who’s going to stay cross with them!?
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Hi guys. Fantastic photos of very cute little kats! I have seen these in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, and in Mitchell Park here in Durban.
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Thanks Kim! They’re such lovable creatures, aren’t they!?
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They really are!
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Beautiful pictures!😊 I love this wonderful and cute animals.They seems to be so clever and they help each other.
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They are very clever and so observant and industrious, John. I can watch them for days!
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Ek kan ure vir hulle sit en kyk. Hulle is ‘n voorbeeld van omgee vir mekaar en ons as mense kan by hulle leer. Fantastiese foto’s, Dries, veral die ou kleintjies en waar die enetjie so vasgehou word!
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Ek is bly jy het hier ook kom kyk Hoop Dries loer by jou ook!
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Ja hy loer darem altyd daar by my, Tina.
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Jy moet bietjie volgende jaar inskryf vir die blogtoekennings? Ek dink jy sal goed vaar.
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Ek weet nie regtig hoe om dit te doen nie. Dankie vir jou altyd getroue ondersteuning en mooi komplimente, Tina.
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Ek kom terug na jou toe!
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Defnitief! Ek dink spesifiek in die kategorie vir fotografie!
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Ek het, Tina! My tong hang nou skoon uit van lus vir die Kalahari!
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Wanneer is dit weer tyd?
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Inskrywings maak gewoonlik so van Oktober af oop, Tina.
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Ons sal Perdebytjie moet aanmoedig
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Meerkatte is regtig oulike goed, en veral die kleintjies steel n mens se hart sommer dadelik!
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Fascinating critters!
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You can spend days watching them and not get bored!
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They are adorable! ❤
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Undoubtedly!
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Great post, they are so cute, thanks for sharing.
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Glad to hear that you liked our Meerkat post so, Kelly!
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I did yes
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We used to watch Meerkat Manor. Fascinating little creatures!
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Many people the world over were spellbound by Meerkat Manor, Lois. As far as I am concerned, meerkats are much more interesting reality tv stars than some other families famous for being famous…
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**gasp** you don’t mean the “K” family, do you? 🙂
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Maybe 😉
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Lovely images of these endearing creatures
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Thank you very much, Sue!
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😊
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