Meerkat-Murray

= ﻿ The Wonderful World of = = Me﻿erkats ﻿  = = = =By:C hristina Murray = = = =Classification= Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Herpestidae Genus: Suricata Species: suricatta

﻿**Suricata suricatta siricatta-** This species of Meerkat is found in South Africa. It ranges in colors from brown to orange. **Suricata suricatta majoriae-** Suricata suricatta majoriae is found in Nimbia, and it is white in color and banded around the eyes. **Suricata suricatta iona-** This meerkat is found in Angola. **Suricata suricatta-** Suricata suricatta lives in the Southern Cape of Africa. It has an orange body and a gray head.
 * Species of Meerkat **

﻿Meerkats are the most sociable of all mongooses. They live in close knit colonies called gangs, and build networks of burrows to live in. These animals also have specific jobs. There are many physical characteristics of meerkats. They have dark skin, sparse fur, a pointed face, crescent ears, a black tip tail, four toes, and stripes on their backs.
 * Meerkat Characteristics **
 * alpha female- dominate-She is in charge of all of the breeding.
 * alpha male- He has the breeding rights in the gang.
 * beta male- The beta male is ten months or older. They may leave the burrow after three years for a better life.
 * beta female- The beta female is ten months or older.
 * babysitter- The babysitter has the job of taking care of the pups in the gang.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">sentries- The sentries watch for predators.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">hunters- They forage and dig for food.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">teacher- He or she teaches the pups to hunt.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">﻿﻿The family Herpestidae is divided into two subfamilies which are Herpestinae and Galidiinae. This family is also known as the mongoose family. Mongooses live in colonies, alone, in trees, on the ground, or in water. The animals in this family are predators and are known for their speed and agility. These animals have long, slender bodies, pointed heads and snouts, round ears, colors of brown or gray, and occasional stripes. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Animals from the family of Herpestidae:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Family Herpestidae **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Long- nosed cusimanse- Its scientific name is Crossarchus obscurus.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Yellow mongoose- This mongoose's scientific name is Cynictis penicillata. It is also known to share burrows with the meerkat.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Egyptian mongoose- This species' scientific name is Herpestes ichneumon.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Banded mongoose- The Banded mongoose's scientific name is Mungos mungo.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Meerkats were also once considered part of the family Viverridae. The family Viverridae is an evolutionary relation of Herpestidae.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">﻿Reproduction is reserved for the alpha male and female. The gestational period for a meerkat is 70 to 75 days or eleven weeks. There is usually a litter of five to six pups which are born blind and hairless. At ten months young meerkats are sexually mature, and adulthood is reached at eleven months. Meerkats can live an average lifespan of ten years, but can live up to fifteen years in captivity. When they are full grown they weigh two pounds and stand 12 to 21 inches from head to tail. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Metabolism﻿:** Meerkats' diet consists of insects, spiders, snails, rodents, birds, eggs, lizards, bulbs, roots, scorpions, and snakes. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Meerkats forage for food and rely on their keen sense of smell to find it. These mongooses must dig to find their food and can dig their own body weight in sand each day. They strike prey with their paws and kill it with a bite. The animal then tears it and brings it to the burrow to share.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Reproduction/Growth and Development **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Males- They are in charge of breeding. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Females-They give birth and contribute to the young more. They also feed the pups. Female meerkats are also slightly larger than the males. ||

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Stimuli/Adaptations:** ﻿Meerkats have many adaptations to their harsh desert environment. First, they have the ability to get all <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">liquid requirements from food. This way they do not have to find and drink water in the dry Sahara desert. Second, they have non-retractable claws that are curved like shovels to help with digging. Third, meerkats have black circles around their eyes that work like sunglasses against the sun. Fourth, these animals have a keen sense of smell to help it find food. Lastly, meerkat gangs have the ability to work together to survive. All of these adaptations help meerkats thrive in the Sahara desert. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Movement:** Meerkats move from territories when food becomes sparse. These carnivores hunt during the day and dig networks of burrows with their powerful forelegs. They stand on their hind legs and move on all fours. This animal also uses its tail for balance. They can easily stand up on their hind legs and look around. Like all mongooses in their family, meerkats are sleek and agile when chasing prey.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: right;">** ﻿ ** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> -links attached to pictures Sources: Websites: www.fellowearthlings.org www.meerkats.net www.sandiegozoo.org www.thebigzoo.com www.whozoo.org www.nhc.ed.ac.uk www.itech.pic.edu www.wikipedia.org Books: The Animal Fact File
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Fun Facts﻿ **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A meerkat was featured in the beloved Lion King as Timon.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Meerkats are in no danger of extinction, but erosion of their habitat may be lessoning their numbers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Their call can range from a chirrup, trill, growl, or bark according to the circumstances.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">There is a TV show on Animal Planet called Meerkat Manor.