Meerkats (Suricata suricatta), or meerkats, are mammalian animals that correspond to a type of mongoose, so they are located within the Herpestidae family. These slender animals measure between 25 and 35 cm and weigh around 800 g. They are characterized by having a highly social and cooperative behavior among related members, which are grouped in herds of up to 30 individuals, however, they are aggressive and territorial with other meerkats that are not part of the family group. A peculiar trait of these small carnivores is their agility to hunt poisonous scorpions, they even teach their children to handle these prey which they have previously killed or removed the stinger.
Now, what is the meerkat's habitat? In this article on our site we explain where meerkats live so that you can get to know these animals a little better, know where they live and how important it is to take care of their habitats.
Meerkat Distribution
Meerkats are animals native exclusively to the African continent. They have a wide distribution in the western areas of the south of the mentioned region, so they can be found in:
- West and South Namibia
- Southwest Botswana
- North and West South Africa
In addition, they have a limited presence towards the southwestern area of Angola. Population densities at distribution sites fluctuate and are influenced by rainfall and levels of predation by other animals.
Meerkat Habitat
The habitat of meerkats corresponds to open areas with arid conditions, where there are short grasses and minimal growth of woody plants. In this sense, they develop in savannahs or plains, commonly with firm to hard soils. This is a substrate in which these animals can dig and also unearth their prey, which they track mainly through their sense of smell. In this other article we talk to you in depth about the Meerkats Feeding. Meerkats are absent in both desert and forested areas.
Now then, where exactly do meerkats live? These animals stay in burrows that they build themselves, we will talk about them below.
Meerkat Burrow
Places of refuge are essential for animals, since they carry out various vital activities for survival. In the case of meerkats, they are individuals that live in groups within a complex system of burrows that they dig, although they may also use South African ground squirrel dens (Xerus inauris). Within these underground spaces there are larger excavations that are made towards the center of the area they occupy, and other smaller ones that are towards the periphery of the area. The burrows of this type of mongoose can extend at least 1, 5 meters underground and have different levels, with several tunnels, chambers and holes that serve to input or output.
As for the territory of each family group of meerkats, it is made up of between 2 and 5 km, which they defend fiercely against other meerkats that do not belong to the family group. In addition, they usually leave traces in their distribution range through the anal glands. In this area there are several burrows that belong to the same herd, but they tend to concentrate in one for the rearing of newborns. The burrows, which are usually the largest and located in the central part of the area they inhabit, are precisely the ones necessary to give birth and keep the hatchlings until they can get out of them, so their initial feeding occurs underground. When the little ones are out of the cave, then the group can start using other of the dens. In the absence of newborn meerkats, they may non-randomly change sleeping locations. Also when there are encounters with predators or resources become scarce, they make changes to the caves they use.
These shelters are essential to the lives of meerkats. In them they sleep and go out in the morning to search for food, which they do by keeping a certain distance from each other and using their sense of smell to locate and unearth prey when it is necessary. To ensure a successful hunt, an adult meerkat acts as a lookout to be on the alert for approaching predators. On cloudy and rainy days, it is not common for meerkats to surface.
On the other hand, these underground places serve to thermoregulate the temperature of these animals in extreme conditions, so that, for example, If the temperature outside is around 38ºC, inside the burrow it will be about 23ºC, since these animals usually take refuge when temperatures are very high during midday. Also, when predators approach, meerkats immediately retreat to their dens where they are well protected.
Meerkat conservation status and protected areas
Now that you know where meerkats live, what their habitat and burrow is like, it is important to mention their conservation status. Meerkats are listed in the Least Concern Category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and their population is considered stable. The main threat of meerkats are natural predators such as birds of prey and jackals. Although these mongooses are susceptible to tuberculosis infections, apparently caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis, there are no current reports of problems in this regard.
Unfortunately, there is a small trade for use of meerkats as pets, which should not be supported under any circumstances because they are exclusively wild animals that require living in their natural habitat.
On the other hand, we can mention that meerkats are in various protected areas, as is the case ofKgalagadi Transfrontier Park , which corresponds to a wildlife reserve located in southern Africa.
