Meerkat

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=Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)=

Introduction:
The meerkat is a small mammal (about 750-820 grams in weight and 12 cm in height when standing on their hind legs) that is closely related to the mongoose. They are native to Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Meerkats live in groups of 20-50 known as gangs, working together to forage for insects, smaller animals and vegetation. Meerkats communicate through their special set of sound signals, notifying each other of threats and other important information such as the discovery of food. The average lifespan of a meerkat is around 10-12 years. Within a gang, only the alpha male and female within a gang are responsible for breeding, and other meerkats within the gang do not have breeding rights.

Classification:

 * **Kingdom** || Animalia ||
 * **Phylum** || Chordata ||
 * **Class** || Mammalia ||
 * **Order** || Carnivora ||
 * **Family** || Herpestidae ||
 * **Genus** || Suricata ||
 * **Species** || S. suricatta ||

Habitat:


Meerkats live in deserts or savannas, with rocky ground and a generally hot climate with little to no rain. Meerkats live a nomadic lifestyle, moving home according to factors such as abundance of food and the presence of other gangs. Meerkats are diurnal, mostly active during the day and are dormant during the night. Meerkats are territorial, occupying a specific area of land and living in complex burrows under the ground, interconnected with multiple dens and entrances. Meerkats are known to share their burrows with ground squirrels and yellow mongooses.

Eye circles (structural)-
Meerkats have dark circles of fur around their eyes, helping to reflect sunlight and as a result, allows them to see normally even under the harsh desert sunlight. This allows the meerkats to better search for food and/or potential threats such as predators.

Sentinels (behavioral)-
A meerkat gang will post one sentinel at a time as a form of protection. This sentinel will stand on its hind legs on some vantage point to scan the surrounding area, looking for potential threats. Upon discovery, this sentinel will call out to the gang and notify them of the threat. This is a form of early warning system for the meerkats that enables them to swiftly deal with the presence of danger.

Scorpion venom immunity (physiological)-
Meerkats have developed immunity to deadly scorpion stings. Living in a desert environment, it is not rare for meerkats to encounter scorpions. This immunity to scorpion venom enables meerkats to better survive and such encounters, and it also opens another food source for them, enabling them to gather as much edible food as possible within their habitat.

=Sources:=
 * 1) Animal Fact Guide. (2007-2012). //Meerkat//. Retrieved June 1, 2012, from []
 * 2) HowStuffWorks, Inc. (1998-2012). //How Meerkats Work.// Retrieved June 1, 2012, from []
 * 3) Meerkats Wiki. (n.d.) //Meerkat//. Retrieved June 10, 2012, from []
 * 4) meerkats.net (1999-2011). //meerkat info.// Retrieved June 4, 2012, from [|http://www.meerkats.net/info.htm#Mating%20and%20reproduction]
 * 5) theanimalfiles.com (n.d.) //Meerkat.// Retrieved June 5, 2012, from []
 * 6) WhoZoo. (n.d.) //Meerkats.// Retrieved June 1, 2012 from []