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Mammals: Meerkat
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An adult meerkat will grow to a standing height of 12 inches and weighs approximately 2 pounds. No two meerkats have the same markings on their backs. They have outstanding vision, and the dark fur bands around their eyes reduce sun glare.
Meerkats live in tropical and open plain areas in South Africa, South Angola, Namibia, and Botswana.
Meerkats eat a variety of larvae and pupae, butterflies, flies, termites, crickets, spiders, scorpions, and occasionally, lizards.
Meerkats are very playful with members of their own group, but are not very social with outsiders. Each meerkat has an assigned job within the group, which could be a guard, teacher, or babysitter for the burrow, among others. The guards watch for predators and bark warnings if one approaches. There is usually a dominant pair of breeders that will run the pack and keep everyone in line. Meerkats communicate with a variety of chatters and barks.
The meerkat is a suricate (burrowing mammal) and is a member of the mongoose family.
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Meerkats' stomachs act like a solar panel during the winter months, collecting heat from the sun in order to provide warmth on cool days.
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