MeerkatsBy: Hannah Karl

*Classification*• Kingdom- Animalia• Phylum- Chordata• Class- Mammalia• Order- Carnivora• Family- Herpestidae• Genus- Suricata• Species- Suricatta

• Mongoose family• 33 different species of mongooses

*Distribution*

• Mainly live in Southern Africa• Kalahari Desert• 359,000 square miles• Pop. about 500,000 in Africa

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List- Least Concern• Pop. Trend- Stable

*Physical Characteristics*

• Size- 12 inches• Fur color• Eyes

*Reproductive Characteristics*

• Alpha female and male • Acceptance of other pups

*Habitat*

• Dens/Burrows/Escape holes/Bolt holes• Territorial• Territory size

*Diet*

• Omnivores• Scorpions, insects, lizards, and fruit• 95% of the time they dig for food

*Longetivity & Mortality*

• Live up to 10-12 years in the wild• Live up to 14-15 years in captivity

*Predators*

• Birds• Jackals• Large Snakes• Hyenas

*Human Relationships*

• Meerkat Manor• Diseases

*Work Cited*• How Meerkats Work. Maria Trimarchi, n.d. Web.

<http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/mammals/meerkats1.htm>.• Meerkat. OpenCrypt Membership Software, n.d. Web.

<http://a-z-animals.com/animals/meerkat/>.• Meerkat. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2005. <http://www.meerkats.net/info.htm>.• Meerkat Behavior. N.p., n.d. Web.

<http://www.animallearningzone.com/meerkat/meerkat_behavior.php>.• Meerkats. WhoZoo, n.d. Web.

<http://www.whozoo.org/students/kartho/meerkat3.htm>.• Rake, Jody Sullivan. Meerkats. Ed. Erika L. Shores. Mankato: Capstone, 2008. Print.• Walden, Katherine. Meerkats. Ed. Amelie Zumbusch. New York: Rosen, 2009.

Print.• What Eats. ADMIN, 25 Mar. 2012. Web. <http://www.whateats.com/what-eats-a-

meerkat>.