Meerkat: Difference between revisions
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==Anatomy== |
==Anatomy== |
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[[File:Suricateskull.png|thumb|left|Skull and dentition, as illustrated in [[Paul Gervais|Gervais]]' ''Histoire naturelle des mammifères'']] |
[[File:Suricateskull.png|thumb|left|Skull and dentition, as illustrated in [[Paul Gervais|Gervais]]' ''Histoire naturelle des mammifères'']] |
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The meerkat is a small [[diurnality|diurnal]] herpestid ([[mongoose]]) weighing on average about {{convert|731|g|lb}} for males and {{convert|720|g|lb}} for females. Its long slender body and limbs give it a body length of {{convert|25|to|35|cm|in}} and an added tail length of {{convert|17|to|25|cm|in}}. Its tail is not bushy like all other mongoose species, but is rather long and thin and tapers to a black or reddish colored pointed tip. The meerkat uses its tail to balance when standing upright. Its face tapers, coming to a point at the nose, which is brown. The eyes always have black patches around them and it has small black crescent-shaped ears that can close to exclude soil when digging. Like cats, meerkats have [[binocular vision]], a large peripheral range, depth perception, and eyes on the front of their faces. |
The meerkat is a small [[diurnality|diurnal]] herpestid ([[mongoose]]) weighing on average about {{convert|731|g|lb}} for males and {{convert|720|g|lb}} for females. Its long slender body and limbs give it a body length of {{convert|25|to|35|cm|in}} and an added tail length of {{convert|17|to|25|cm|in}}. Its tail is not bushy like all other mongoose species, but is rather long and thin and tapers to a black or reddish colored pointed tip. The meerkat uses its tail to balance when standing upright .They also use it for signal. Its face tapers, coming to a point at the nose, which is brown. The eyes always have black patches around them and it has small black crescent-shaped ears that can close to exclude soil when digging. Like cats, meerkats have [[binocular vision]], a large peripheral range, depth perception, and eyes on the front of their faces. |
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At the end of each of a meerkat's "fingers" is a non-retractable, strong, {{convert|2|cm|in}} long, curved [[claw]] used for digging [[burrow]]s and digging for [[predation|prey]]. Claws are also used with muscular hindlegs to help climb trees. They have four toes on each foot and long slender limbs. The coat is usually fawn-colored peppered with gray, tan, or brown with a silver tint. They have short parallel stripes across their backs, extending from the base of the tail to the shoulders. The patterns of stripes are unique to each meerkat. The underside of the meerkat has no markings, but the belly has a patch which is only sparsely covered with hair and shows the black skin underneath. The meerkat uses this area to absorb heat while standing on its rear legs, usually early in the morning after cold desert nights. |
At the end of each of a meerkat's "fingers" is a non-retractable, strong, {{convert|2|cm|in}} long, curved [[claw]] used for digging [[burrow]]s and digging for [[predation|prey]]. Claws are also used with muscular hindlegs to help climb trees. They have four toes on each foot and long slender limbs. The coat is usually fawn-colored peppered with gray, tan, or brown with a silver tint. They have short parallel stripes across their backs, extending from the base of the tail to the shoulders. The patterns of stripes are unique to each meerkat. The underside of the meerkat has no markings, but the belly has a patch which is only sparsely covered with hair and shows the black skin underneath. The meerkat uses this area to absorb heat while standing on its rear legs, usually early in the morning after cold desert nights. |
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Meerkats are primarily [[insectivore]]s, but also eat [[lizard]]s, [[snake]]s, [[scorpion]]s, [[spider]]s, [[plant]]s, [[egg (biology)|eggs]], small [[mammal]]s, [[millipede]]s, [[centipede]]s and, more rarely, small birds. Meerkats are immune to certain types of [[venom]]; they are immune to the very strong venom of the scorpions of the [[Kalahari Desert]], unlike humans.<ref>David Attenborough, 2000. Meerkats United</ref> They have no excess [[Adipose tissue|body fat]] stores, so [[foraging]] for food is a daily need. |
Meerkats are primarily [[insectivore]]s, but also eat [[lizard]]s, [[snake]]s, [[scorpion]]s, [[spider]]s, [[plant]]s, [[egg (biology)|eggs]], small [[mammal]]s, [[millipede]]s, [[centipede]]s and, more rarely, small birds. Meerkats are immune to certain types of [[venom]]; they are immune to the very strong venom of the scorpions of the [[Kalahari Desert]], unlike humans.<ref>David Attenborough, 2000. Meerkats United</ref> They have no excess [[Adipose tissue|body fat]] stores, so [[foraging]] for food is a daily need. |
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Meerkats forage in a group with one "sentry" on guard watching for predators while the others search for food. Sentry duty is usually approximately an hour long. Baby meerkats do not start foraging for food until they are about 1 month old, and do so by following an older member of the group who acts as the pup's tutor.<ref>[http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/mighty-masked-meerkat-mobs/offbeat-news Mighty Masked Meerkat Mobs]</ref> The meerkat standing guard makes peeping sounds when all is well. If the meerkat spots danger, it barks loudly or whistles. |
Meerkats forage in a group with one "sentry" on guard watching for predators while the others search for food. Sentry duty is usually approximately an hour long.A meerkat can dig through a quantity of sand equal to its own weight in just seconds.<ref>Meerkats http://ladywildlife.com/animals/meerkat.html</ref> Baby meerkats do not start foraging for food until they are about 1 month old, and do so by following an older member of the group who acts as the pup's tutor.<ref>[http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/mighty-masked-meerkat-mobs/offbeat-news Mighty Masked Meerkat Mobs]</ref> The meerkat standing guard makes peeping sounds when all is well. If the meerkat spots danger, it barks loudly or whistles. |
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==Reproduction== |
==Reproduction== |
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===Vocalization=== |
===Vocalization=== |
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Meerkat calls may carry specific meanings, with particular calls indicating the type or the location of a predator.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1075/is.5.3.02man | first = Marta | last = Manser | coauthors = Fletcher, Lindsay | year = 2004 | title = Vocalize to localize: A test on functionally referential alarm calls | journal = Interaction Studies | volume = 5 | issue = 3 | pages = 327–344 | url = http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/jbp/is/2004/00000005/00000003/art00002 | accessdate = 2010-07-01}}</ref> How these calls work is not yet clear. |
Meerkat calls may carry specific meanings, with particular calls indicating the type or the location of a predator. They chirrup, trill, growl, or bark, according to circumstances .<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1075/is.5.3.02man | first = Marta | last = Manser | coauthors = Fletcher, Lindsay | year = 2004 | title = Vocalize to localize: A test on functionally referential alarm calls | journal = Interaction Studies | volume = 5 | issue = 3 | pages = 327–344 | url = http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/jbp/is/2004/00000005/00000003/art00002 | accessdate = 2010-07-01}}</ref> How these calls work is not yet clear. |
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===Meerkat groups=== |
===Meerkat groups=== |
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Revision as of 12:55, 28 August 2011
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2010) |
| Meerkat | |
|---|---|
| |
| At Victoria, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Suricata Desmarest, 1804
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| Species: | S. suricatta
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| Binomial name | |
| Suricata suricatta | |
| |
| Meerkat range | |
The meerkat or suricate, Suricata suricatta, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". A meerkat clan often contains about 20 meerkats, but some super-families have 50 or more members. Meerkats have an average life span of 12–14 years.
Name
"Meerkat" is a loanword from Afrikaans with Dutch origin meaning "lake or marsh cat".[2]
Anatomy
The meerkat is a small diurnal herpestid (mongoose) weighing on average about 731 grams (1.612 lb) for males and 720 grams (1.59 lb) for females. Its long slender body and limbs give it a body length of 25 to 35 centimetres (9.8 to 13.8 in) and an added tail length of 17 to 25 centimetres (6.7 to 9.8 in). Its tail is not bushy like all other mongoose species, but is rather long and thin and tapers to a black or reddish colored pointed tip. The meerkat uses its tail to balance when standing upright .They also use it for signal. Its face tapers, coming to a point at the nose, which is brown. The eyes always have black patches around them and it has small black crescent-shaped ears that can close to exclude soil when digging. Like cats, meerkats have binocular vision, a large peripheral range, depth perception, and eyes on the front of their faces.
At the end of each of a meerkat's "fingers" is a non-retractable, strong, 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long, curved claw used for digging burrows and digging for prey. Claws are also used with muscular hindlegs to help climb trees. They have four toes on each foot and long slender limbs. The coat is usually fawn-colored peppered with gray, tan, or brown with a silver tint. They have short parallel stripes across their backs, extending from the base of the tail to the shoulders. The patterns of stripes are unique to each meerkat. The underside of the meerkat has no markings, but the belly has a patch which is only sparsely covered with hair and shows the black skin underneath. The meerkat uses this area to absorb heat while standing on its rear legs, usually early in the morning after cold desert nights.
Diet and foraging behaviour
Meerkats are primarily insectivores, but also eat lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders, plants, eggs, small mammals, millipedes, centipedes and, more rarely, small birds. Meerkats are immune to certain types of venom; they are immune to the very strong venom of the scorpions of the Kalahari Desert, unlike humans.[3] They have no excess body fat stores, so foraging for food is a daily need.
Meerkats forage in a group with one "sentry" on guard watching for predators while the others search for food. Sentry duty is usually approximately an hour long.A meerkat can dig through a quantity of sand equal to its own weight in just seconds.[4] Baby meerkats do not start foraging for food until they are about 1 month old, and do so by following an older member of the group who acts as the pup's tutor.[5] The meerkat standing guard makes peeping sounds when all is well. If the meerkat spots danger, it barks loudly or whistles.
Reproduction
Meerkats become sexually mature at about one year of age and can have one to five pups in a litter, with three pups being the most common litter size. Wild meerkats may have up to four litters per year. Meerkats are iteroparous and can reproduce any time of the year but most births occur in the warmer seasons. The pups are allowed to leave the burrow at three weeks old. When the pups are ready to emerge from the burrow, the whole clan of meerkats will stand around the burrow to watch. Some of the adolescents might try to show off so they can have more attention than the pups.
There is no precopulatory display; the male ritually grooms the female until she submits to him and copulation begins, the male generally adopting a seated position during the act. Gestation lasts approximately 11 weeks and the young are born within the underground burrow and are altricial (undeveloped). The young's ears open at about 15 days of age, and their eyes at 10–14 days. They are weaned around 49 to 63 days. They do not come above ground until at least 21 days of age and stay with babysitters near the burrow. After another week or so, they join the adults on a foraging party.
Usually, the alpha pair reserves the right to mate and normally kills any young not its own, to ensure that its offspring has the best chance of survival. The dominant couple may also evict, or kick out the mothers of the offending offspring.
New meerkat groups are often formed by evicted females pairing with roving males.
If the members of the alpha group are relatives (this tends to happen when the alpha female dies and is succeeded by a daughter), they do not mate with each other and reproduction is by group females stray-mating with roving males from other groups; in this situation, pregnant females tend to kill and eat any pups born to other females.
Behavior
Meerkats are small burrowing animals, living in large underground networks with multiple entrances which they leave only during the day. They are very social, living in colonies averaging 20–30 members. Animals in the same group regularly groom each other to strengthen social bonds. The alpha pair often scent-mark subordinates of the group to express their authority, and this is usually followed by the subordinates grooming the alphas and licking their faces. This behavior is also usually practiced when group members are reunited after a short period apart. Most meerkats in a group are all siblings or offspring of the alpha pair.
Meerkats demonstrate altruistic behavior within their colonies; one or more meerkats stand sentry while others are foraging or playing, to warn them of approaching dangers. When a predator is spotted, the meerkat performing as sentry gives a warning bark, and other members of the gang will run and hide in one of the many bolt holes they have spread across their territory. The sentry meerkat is the first to reappear from the burrow and search for predators, constantly barking to keep the others underground. If there is no threat, the sentry meerkat stops signaling and the others feel safe to emerge.
Meerkats also babysit the young in the group. Females that have never produced offspring of their own often lactate to feed the alpha pair's young, while the alpha female is away with the rest of the group. They also protect the young from threats, often endangering their own lives. On warning of danger, the babysitter takes the young underground to safety and is prepared to defend them if the danger follows. If retreating underground is not possible, she collects all young together and lies on top of them.
Meerkats are also known to share their burrow with the Yellow Mongoose and ground squirrel, species with which they do not compete for resources. If they are unlucky, sometimes they share their burrow with snakes.
Like many species, meerkat young learn by observing and mimicking adult behaviour though adults also engage in active instruction. For example, meerkat adults teach their pups how to eat a venomous scorpion: they will remove the stinger and help the pup learn how to handle the creature.[6]
Despite this altruistic behaviour, meerkats sometimes kill young members of their group. Subordinate meerkats have been seen killing the offspring of more senior members in order to improve their own offspring's position.[7]
Meerkats have been known to engage in social activities, including what appear to be wrestling matches and foot races.
Vocalization
Meerkat calls may carry specific meanings, with particular calls indicating the type or the location of a predator. They chirrup, trill, growl, or bark, according to circumstances .[8] How these calls work is not yet clear.
Meerkat groups
A meerkat group may die out because of predator attack, its alpha pair being unable to breed, starvation due to drought, or epidemic disease.
A new meerkat group often arises from evicted females meeting and staying with roving males, seeking to mate. The litter size is usually 2–5 pups.
The size of the groups is variable. A group which becomes over-large may routinely have to disperse widely to find enough food when foraging. As a result, when suddenly needing to run for shelter, members of the group may choose different holes, resulting in the group fissioning.
Subspecies
There are three subspecies of meerkat:[9]
- Suricata suricatta siricata
- Suricata suricatta majoriae
- Suricata suricatta iona
In popular culture
Meerkats have been the subjects of many cultural depictions, including:
- the Animal Planet series Meerkat Manor
- Timon, a character of the Disney animated film's The Lion King, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, The Lion King 1½ and the spin-off series The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa.
- Aleksandr Orlov, a computer generated meerkat, featured in an advertising campaign.
- Life of Pi, a fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel published in 2001.
Domestication
Meerkats make very poor pets. They bite, and the bite can become infected. They stink, and will scent-mark their owner and the house (their "territory"). Being a pack animal, they may become hysterical if kept as single pets.[10]
See also
- Kalahari Meerkat Project, a long-term research project
- The Meerkats, a 2008 documentary feature film
References
- ^ Template:IUCN2008 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.
- ^ "Meerkat". Etymology online. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ David Attenborough, 2000. Meerkats United
- ^ Meerkats http://ladywildlife.com/animals/meerkat.html
- ^ Mighty Masked Meerkat Mobs
- ^ Thornton, Alex (2006). "Teaching in Wild Meerkats". Science. 313 (5784): 227–229. doi:10.1126/science.1128727. PMID 16840701. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Murderous Meerkat Moms Contradict Caring Image, Study Finds
- ^ Manser, Marta (2004). "Vocalize to localize: A test on functionally referential alarm calls". Interaction Studies. 5 (3): 327–344. doi:10.1075/is.5.3.02man. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Katie Kimble (2003). "Meerkat Studbook Suricata suricatta North American Region" (pdf). Retrieved 2010-01-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ How about a Pet Meerkat?
Further reading
- David Macdonald (Photography by Nigel Dennis): Meerkats. London: New Holland Publishers, 1999.
- Meerkat pups go to eating school BBC News, 13 July 2006.
External links
