The meerkat is a small diurnal animal originating from southwestern Africa which is recognisable because of its distinctive posture, where it stands upright on its hind legs.
Profile
Class, order and family :
Mammalia, carnivora, herpestidae
Lifespan :
Up to 10 years
Height & weight :
From 45 to 50 cm, between 625 g and 1 kg
Gestation :
Around 70 days
Natural habitat :
Semi-arid plains, scrublands and prairie grasslands
Diet :
Opportunistic insectivore
Native region :
South-west africa
Statut UICN :
Least concern (LC)
Lifestyle
The iconic meerkat is a diurnal animal which lives in groups, in a territory that it can share peacefully with other meerkats. Skilful and meticulous, it can feed on venomous prey.
Anecdote
At the Zoological Park of Paris, the meerkats share their enclosure with the bat-eared foxes.
Les suricates explorent leur nouvel enclos. © MNHN - F.G Grandin
Les nouveaux hôtes du parc zoologique : les suricates ! © MNHN - F.G Grandin
