A small, highly social mongoose of southern Africa. Packs of up to 30 live in large burrow systems, and non-breeding members help raise the dominant pair’s pups.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Insects only
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inAfrica
HabitatDesert, Scrub, Grassland
ColoursTan, Brown
SizeSmall
Length24–35 cm (head and body)
Weight0.62–0.97 kg
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives inmobs
Lives for12–14 years
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Southern Africa.
Did you know
Takes turns on sentry duty while the rest of the mob eats.
A meerkat burrow system is about 5 m across, with around 15 entrances and two or three levels.
Often confused with
- Mongoose
The meerkat is a small mongoose from southern Africa.
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