If the meerkat on guard spots danger, it barks loudly or whistles in one of six different ways. For example if the threat is of low, medium or high urgency and if the predator is in the air or on the ground. For a high-urgency land predator alarm call, meerkats will scatter down their nearest burrow entrance. For a high-urgency aerial predator alarm call, they will crouch down and may look skyward.
Fun Meerkat Facts for Kids Check out our fun meerkat facts for kids. Meerkats live on average 7 - 10 years in the wild, and 12 - 14 years in captivity. It is a member of the mongoose family. A group of meerkats is called a "mob" or "gang", and usually all of the meerkats are relatives. Meerkats live in burrows in the ground. They are active during the day, except when hot during the afternoon sun. They also live in large family groups. The group is led by a female and a male.
The meerkats are often all family. They get rid of fleas in each other's fur to become friends, which is called "grooming". Sometimes if a minor member is in trouble with the leader it will groom the leader to try and calm them down. The meerkats help each other. When the family is eating or playing together, one meerkat acts a sentry, and looks out for predators.
If he or she sees one, then he gives a chirp and the group runs to a burrow to be safe. Also, when pups are looking for food, adults bring them food and teach them how to eat it.
Before pups start looking for food with the group, they are babysat by older members at the burrow to protect them from danger. Sometimes a female who never gave birth will produce milk for the pups. Meerkats can share their burrows with many different animals, such as other mongooses and sometimes squirrels who live on the ground. A study published in the journal Nature found that the meerkats manage to adjust their diets — and their growth rate — in order to try to grow bigger than their rivals.
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Learn about our editorial process. Share Twitter Pinterest Email. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger. They use their keen sense of smell to locate their favorite foods, which include beetles , caterpillars, spiders, and scorpions.
They'll also eat small reptiles, birds, eggs, fruit, and plants. Back at the burrow, several babysitters stay behind to watch over newborn pups. This duty rotates to different members of the mob, and a sitter will often go all day without food. The babysitters' main job is to protect pups from meerkats in rival mobs, who will kill the babies if they can. While the rest of the mob forages for food, one or more meerkats, called a sentry, will find a high point, like a termite mound, and perch on their back legs, scanning the sky and desert for predators like eagles , hawks , and jackals.
A sentry who senses danger will let out a high-pitched squeal, sending the mob scrambling for cover. Meerkats dig safe places called bolt-holes throughout their foraging area, where they can hide in an emergency.
If caught in the open by a predator, a meerkat will try to look fierce, lying on its back and showing its teeth and claws.
If a group is confronted, the meerkats will stand together, arching their backs, raising their hair, and hissing. This sometimes fools an attacker into thinking they are a single large, vicious animal.
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