Meerkats are a type of mongoose… and it’s difficult to think of the animal without thinking of “Timone”, the friendly little character from the “Lion King.” There are few animals who work as well together as meerkats, and they have been called one of the most cooperative mammals on Earth. These squirrel-size members of the mongoose family live in groups as large as 40, and everyone in the mob participates in gathering food, keeping a lookout for predators, and taking care of the babies. Meerkats only go outside during the daytime. Each morning, as the sun comes up, the mob emerges and begins looking for food. They use their keen sense of smell to locate their favourite foods, which include beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and scorpions. They'll also eat small reptiles, birds, eggs, fruit, and plants. Meerkats are predators. They use various tactics to kill and eat venomous snakes, scorpions, and toxic millipedes without being hurt, as they have some immunity to the venom. Meerkats are able to survive without drinking water, as they can get the moisture they need from eating fruits, roots and tubers.
Our Meerkats:
Leslie, Male: Jan 31, 2003
Lyra, Female: Jul 08, 2006
Congratulations to Morea1821 on the FTF!