Meerkats are adorable little animals that are found in southern Africa. They are closely related to mongooses but have pretty unique features.
In this article, you will learn some of the top 10 interesting facts about Meerkats.
Scientific profile
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Herpestidae
- Genus: Suricata
- Species: Suricata suricatta
The Top 10 Interesting Facts About Meerkats
1. Meerkats Are Social Animals
Meerkats are one of the few animals that have a social nature. They live in groups of up to 30 individuals.
A group of meerkats are called a mob. In a group, meerkats are highly social and cooperative, with each member playing a specific role in the community.
Tasks include babysitting the young, standing guard, or foraging. This tactic is very effective since the work is divided and each member knows what to do at all times.
The babysitters, aka nannies or helpers, care for baby meerkats since they are born deaf and blind.
2. They Are Immune to Certain Venoms
Since meerkats live in the Kalahari and Namib Deserts, they often face venomous snakes and scorpions.
Luckily, they are immune to most of the venoms found in these dangerous animals. This trait allows them to hunt and eat venomous creatures like scorpions and snakes without getting harmed.
This immunity is like a superpower that helps them survive in the wild.
3. They Have a Unique Diet
Meerkats are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. This makes their options for a diet unique.
An average meerkat diet includes insects, small mammals, birds, eggs, and even venomous scorpions and snakes.
They are among the few animals that can eat most of the venomous animals they frequently encounter.
So, wherever you see meerkats eating a venomous animal, you now know why.
4. They Love Sunbathing
Meerkats enjoy sunbathing. This is why they are mostly seen standing tall on their hind legs. They use the sun’s warmth to regulate their body temperature, especially after a chilly night in the desert.
Meerkats also sunbathe in family groups. They can be seen huddling closely together and removing parasites from their peers.
5. They Have a Complex Communication System
Although meerkats cannot talk, they can communicate with each other by using sounds.
Each meerkat has its own unique sound, and they have different calls that help them communicate. Some include alarm calls, mating calls, and even a “watchman’s song” when on guard duty.
These sounds help the mob stay coordinated and safe.
6. Meerkats Are Excellent Diggers
Meerkats are experts when it comes to digging into the ground and tunnelling. Their burrow systems have multiple entrances and exits.
Inside their burrows, there are separate chambers for sleeping, storing food, and even going to the bathroom.
This digging habit also benefits the environment since it improves the soil’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.
7. They Have a Matriarchal Society
In meerkat society, the alpha female leads the family. The dominant female in the group is usually the only one to breed.
The rest of the mob helps raise the pups. This social structure helps ensure the survival of the next generation.
When the dominant female meerkat in a mob dies, the oldest daughter usually takes her place.
In some cases where a younger sibling has outgrown her sister, there is a rivalry. They are settled with an eating contest.
8. They Have a Strong Sense of Smell
Meerkats use their strong sense of smell to find food and detect predators. They can sniff out insects and other prey that are hidden underground.
This is how they dig into the dark burrows in search of bugs and food like termites, beetles, and caterpillars.
9. They Have Good Eyesight
Meerkats have exceptionally good eyesight for animals that live in the desert. This comes in handy when hunting or on the lookout.
Meerkats have dark patches around their eyes that help cut down on the intense rays from the sun during the day. This trait gives them better vision up close and far away.
10. Meerkats Have a Long Lifespan
Compared to most wildlife, meerkats have a long lifespan. They can live up to 12-15 years in the wild. In captivity, they can live even longer, sometimes reaching 20 years.
This lifespan is possible due to their social nature and intelligence.
Bonus
Congrats on reading this far. Here is a bonus meerkat fact for you!
They Teach Pups to Hunt in a Unique Way
Meerkats train to become efficient hunters from a young age. The early learning process involves using dead scorpions to practice.
After some practice, the next stage involves hunting live scorpions. The adult meerkats first bite off its sting before bringing it to the pup.
Final Words
If you read until this point, congratulations; you now know 10 interesting facts about meerkats. In this article, I have covered the top 10 most interesting facts about meerkats with a bonus for those who stuck around till the end.
FAQs
What are meerkat babies called?
Meerkat babies are called pups. A female can give birth to 1 to 8 babies (pups) at a time.
What do meerkats love to do?
Meerkats love to sunbathe in the sun. They also love to pick out bugs.
Who is a meerkat enemy?
Meerkats are afraid of some land animals and birds. These animals include snakes, jackals, and eagles.
This is why they take turns to guard the rest of the group and alert if any predators are seen.
Hi, I’m Louis Ojibe, and I grew up around wildlife in Africa. I have always been fascinated by animals and nature across the world.
As a child, my parents used to take me to see wild animals like lions, elephants, gorillas, tortoises, and many others at our local zoo.
