Kirrily+S

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The meerkat, also known as Suricata suricatta, live in Southern Africa plains. Meerkats can remain cool even in the hot African sun. Meerkats are mostly seen in group of about 5 to 10. That is so 1 or 2 can look out for eagles and hawks. While they are watching out for the predators, the others a looking for food such as insects, lizards, birds, and fruit. Meerkats dig tunnels to keep cool. Female meerkats give birth to 2-5 kits in November each year.The meerkats give birth in grass lined burrows that are shaded. They stay in the mothers stomach for 11 weeks. The meerkats live for 12-14 years. Fathers and siblings help to raise meerkat young, teaching them to play and forage and alerting them to the ever present danger from above. Young meerkats are so fearful of predatory birds that even airplanes will send them diving for cover. It takes one year until meerkats are mature and can give birth. The differences between male and female are very simular. They both have brown fur, same feet, same height, but one way to tell the difference is the fur on their backs. The black markings around their eyes are like built in sunglasses. Meerkats have non-retractible claws and have 4 toes and they have ears that can close. Meerkats also have different callings for when their in danger for different animals. They are diurnal which means they sleep at night and stay awake in day. Meeerkats are very territorial and will fiercely defend their home from other meerkat gangs. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Feliformia Family: Herpestidae Genus: Suricata Species: Suricata suricatta

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