Meerkats

=﻿ MEERKAT =

__**Scientific name**__: //Suricata suricatta//

__**Classification**__: __Domain__- Eukarya __Kingdom__- Animalia __Phylum__- Chordata __Class__- Mammalia __Order__- Carnivora __Family__- Viverridae

The meerkats is a cousin of the mongoose. It usually lives twelve to fourteen years. The coat is light gray with black horizontal stripes on the back and a whitish head. Females tend to be larger than the males because they take more care in protecting the young.

Habitat
The average meerkat lives within the boundaries of semiarid plains. They are adapted to dry weather therefore the areas that they occupy have little rain. They often prefer savannah grasslands. A meerkat either burrows (in plains areas) or lives in rock crevices. Because of the dry weather there is a small variety of flora.

Physiology
A meerkat is immune to the poison from scorpions or snakes. It uses its tail for balance and as a signal. Its tail is approximately 25 to 37 cm (10 to 15 in) long. Its big dark eyes help it to see even when it is bright out. They adapt by staying in mobs of almost thirty meerkats.

Species Interactions
The classification of species interactions that meerkats have are predation and mutualism. They are a tasty treat for jackals, eagles, and falcons while at the same time help yellow mongoose and ground squirrels burrow. Suricates, as meerkats are otherwise known, eat insects, snakes, and small mammals. They have a positive and negative effect on humans however. Meerkats benefit humans by being a free type of pest control, though the negative is quite significant. They may carry rabies therefore interaction at zoos with captive meerkats can lead to sickness in humans.

Reproduction
There is always an alpha male and female. They are the main ones to reproduce however helpers also reproduce at times. The alpha female leaves her pups with the helper females so that she can scavenge. Meerkats are sexually active by the age of 1. It may take up to 75 days to mate fully and only 2 to 4 pups are born at one time. Cubs are blind and hairless and will stay in the burrow until they are 2-4 months old. Young males will often leave to start their own colonies.

Free Topic (In art)
Meerkats are seen in art because art is most everything. Movies depict a certain meerkat named Timon. The animated character exemplifies all the true actions of a meerkat. To say the least, meerkats are done pure justice in the movies and tv shows.