Meerkats are small, furry mammals that live exclusively in dry, desert plains in Southern Africa. They have short legs, pointed noses, small ears and long tails, and their fur ranges in color from gray to brown. Meerkats primarily eat insects but will also consume lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders, plants, eggs and small mammals. While meerkats themselves are not currently endangered, mongooses brought to other areas like Hawaii and Jamaica to control rodents caused unintended harm to local wildlife populations.

1. MEERKAT

2. PHYSICAL APPARENCE Mongooses are small and have short legs, pointed noses, small ears, and long, furry tails. Their hair ranges in color from gray to brown.

3. HABITAT Meerkats live exclusively in the range of the dry, desert plains of Southwestern Angola to Southern Africa.

4. DIET Meerkats are primarily insectivores, but also eat lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders, plants, eggs, small mammals, centipedes and more rarely, small birds.

5. ARE MEERKATS IN DANGER? The meerkats are not in danger. In the late 1800s people brought mongooses to Hawaii and the island of Jamaica in the West Indies in the hope that they would kill rodents and snakes. Unfortunately, the mongooses went on to kill many rare and useful native animals as well. Because they are so destructive, mongooses can be brought into the United States only under strict regulation.