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>.
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