Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)

Origin- Meerkats inhabit the most open and arid parts of the Kalahari desert in Botswana, the Namib Desert in Namibia and South Africa

Lifespan- up to 12 years in captivity, from 5 years in the wild

Diet- Meerkats are mainly insectivorous but will also eat lizards, snakes, scorpion, spiders, birds, millipedes, centipedes, eggs and plant material

Description- Their body and legs are long and slender, the tail is thin and tapered to a point. The face is tapered, ears small and crescent-shaped, they have distinct dark patches around the eyes. Their coat is peppered grey, tan or brown with a silver tint with dark horizontal bands around the body. They are very social and will post sentries to keep watch so other members can forage and play.

Conservation- Meerkats are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List

least concern