Meerkat

Suricatta suricata

Ringo the meerkat

Animal facts

Highly sociable, these mongooses live in extensive burrow systems. One of the group acts as sentry on a high vantage point, while the others forage for food. Black hair around their eyes enables them to scan the bright sky for predators and a variety of calls warns the group to hide when danger is near.

Where they live

Africa, South of the Kalahari Desert

Habitat

Desert, semi-desert

What they eat

Insects, small mammals, scorpions, snakes

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