Meerkat
Statut U.I.C.N
Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature
- lc Préoccupation mineure
- nt Quasi menacé
- vu Vulnérable
- en En danger
- cr En danger critique
- ew Éteint dans la nature
- ex Éteint
Carte d'identité
- Classe :
- Mammals
- Ordre :
- Carnivora
- Famille :
- Herpestidae
- Genre :
- Suricata
- Espèce :
- suricatta
- Taille moyenne
- 25 to 29 cm
- Poids
- 720 to 730 g
- Gestation
- About 65 days
2 to 7 young per litter - Habitat
- Open arid or semi-arid plains
- Régime
- Carnivore
The sentinel of the desert
Adults gradually teach the young how to handle dangerous prey, scorpions in particular. They may begin by offering them a disabled prey before moving on to prey that is harder to master.
Threats and conservation
The meerkat is threatened by habitat loss, prolonged droughts and natural predation. To protect it, natural environments are preserved, populations are monitored, and the species is present in several protected areas.
Fun fact
Meerkats can close their ears to keep sand out while they dig their burrows.
