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Predators
Meerkat
Meerkat · Suricata suricatta
The curious meerkat lives in families, keeps watch and shows real team spirit in the dry plains of southern Africa.
Fact file
- Size
- 30 to 35 cm body length, tail about the same length; weight 0.7 to 1 kg
- Males and females
- Males and females look very similar, females slightly larger
- Sounds
- Varied calls from chirping to shrill alarm calls when there is danger
- Diet
- Eats mainly insects, but also small vertebrates, eggs and plants
- Offspring
- 2 to 4 young twice a year after a gestation period of around 77 days
How to identify Meerkat
The meerkat has sandy-grey fur, crossed by dark transverse stripes on its back. The snout is pointed, the ears are small and edged in black. The eyes look strikingly large and are surrounded by dark rings that resemble natural sunglasses.
With a body length of up to 35 centimetres and an equally long, slender tail, its slim, upright silhouette stands out immediately. The legs are long and the front paws have strong claws, ideal for digging. In sunlight the colour gradations between back and belly are clearly visible.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 3 places where you can see Meerkat
Where Meerkat live
Discover Meerkat on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
