MEERKAT - Definition & Meaning for Kids

📖 Fun Facts About Meerkat

• • The meerkat is also called the suricate
• • The meerkat is not a weasel, it is a species of mongoose
• • Like all mongooses, meerkats can kill cobras
• • Meerkats have about 20 specific warning calls
• • A group of meerkats is called a "mob", a "gang", a "pack", or a "troop".
• • Meerkats have bare patches on their bellies that they expose to the sun when they need to warm up
• • The meerkats favorite food is scorpions
• • Meerkats are omnivores. One of the most surprising facts about meerkats is that they are omnivores. This means that along with plants, they also eat other animals. One of their most popular picks is termites, which their name may be a reference to.
• • They’re not related to cats. Despite having “kat” in the name, meerkats aren’t actually related to cats.
• • Packs raise offspring together. Meerkats are what is known as a cooperatively breeding species. This means that they raise their babies as an entire group.
• • Meerkats are immune to venom. As a member of the mongoose family, meerkats are actually immune to certain types of venoms.
• • They can “cook” scorpions!. Not only are meerkats immune to certain types of snake venom, but they’ve also mastered a technique at expertly preparing scorpions so they don’t get hurt.
• • Meerkats are some of the most intelligent animals. Meerkats are much more intelligent than they were initially given credit for. When you think of intelligent animals, you probably think about dogs, elephants, and dolphins.
• • They stand on their hind legs as a look out. This gives them more height to look out for predators, such as birds of prey and snakes that prey on meerkats. This means they need to watch the skies, as well as the ground.
• • They don’t drink water. Living in a desert, you’d think that meerkats would be awfully thirsty. However, this isn’t exactly true. In fact, meerkats don’t even drink water!
• • They have amazing vision. A meerkat’s vision is its most developed sense – surprising since most animals seem to favor smell. Their eyesight is good enough that they can spot a single bird miles away.
• • Meerkats have no body fat. If you’re wondering why meerkats are so small, it’s because they don’t actually have any body fat.
• • They can thermoregulate. They have specialized built-in thermoregulation that allows them to survive their harsh dry desert habitat.
• • Meerkats have at least 12 different types of vocalisations. They are highly vocal and will use different vocalisations to communicate different things, and they can include yelps, growls, spits and more!
• • Their burrows can measure up to 30m. Typically they are much smaller, around 5m in size, with 3 levels and a dozen openings. However, there are some reports of burrows as big as 30m (100 feet), with nearly 100 holes!
• • They can go to war. Meerkat mobs are territorial and will fight with rivals gangs if necessary. While they will often try and avoid conflict, from time to time two clans will clash.
• • Meerkats are famous. Meerkats have been widely portrayed across film and TV.
• • One will stand on guard to watch for predators!