Habitat and Geographical Distribution: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Inhabit savannah and plain areas.
Diet: Omnivores. Scarabs, caterpillars, spiders, scorpions, small reptiles and birds, eggs, plants and fruit.
Reproduction: Usually, the alpha male and female reserve the right to mate, and can have several litters per year. Pups begin to venture out of the burrow at 3 weeks of age.
Behaviour: Live in groups of between 3 and 50 members, in which all members participate in the tasks of foraging for food, caring for young and watching for predators – the meerkat with this task is called the sentry.
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)
Classification
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Herpestidae
Length: 42-60 cm
Lifespan: 12 years