The Small mammals of africa

Suricate

Suricata suricatta

Of the mongoose family and also known as the meerkat it is one of the most endearing animals of Africa. The suricate has a long tail that is held rigidly up when running.

Distribution The dry eastern parts of southern Africa from southern Angola to the Cape.

Social structure Highly sociable creatures living in troops of up to 50. They are strictly diurnal and live in burrows they dig themselves.

Range differentiation No noticeable differentiation except maybe in the food types.

Habitat Open semi arid to arid areas.

Feeding Carnivorous – they feed on insects and other invertebrates. They have a keen sense of smell and are able to locate buried prey.

Breeding An average of three young are born after a gestation period of two and a half months. The young are looked after by older siblings when the mother is out foraging.

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Suricates have close-knit family structures where there is constant bonding.

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When sensing danger suricates will head to their burrows and only leave when the danger has passed.

A much loved and cartooned species of the dry southern African plains. They move in a very vocal troop when foraging with individuals frequently standing on their hind legs and on raised points looking for danger. They are preyed upon by eagles and jackals. They will mob a snake when they come across one.

They keep in contact as a troop by constantly chattering and when one starts moving in a certain direction the others will follow