Mike & Martin

As meerkats are 'snack-size' to a number of predators, one always stands guard while the mob is feeding or taking a nap. Their main enemies in the wild are Eagles and Jackals.

In the wild meerkats will eat scorpions, as they are immune to scorpion venom. They also eat crickets, spiders, millipedes, small mammals and reptiles, birds, eggs, tubers and roots.

A group of meerkats, usually 5-30 members, is called a 'mob' or 'gang'.

Their dark eye markings act as built-in sun-glasses to look near the sun for enemies. They have non-retractable claws and ears that are closeable. They use their sparsely-furred bellies to warm up in the sun.

Meerkats or Suricates (suricata suricatta) are named after the Afrikaans for lake - meer. They live in dry areas but like water.

They are not cats but are from the Mongoose (viverridae) family that includes civets and genets.

The leading male and female do most of the breeding. A litter is 2-5 and pregnancy is 11 weeks. Babies are born with eyes and ears closed and sparse fur. Other members of the gang will baby-sit while the mother feeds. The young are mature in about a year.