Meerkats live in burrows in the grasslands and deserts of South Africa and parts of Namibia and Angola. They share their burrows with other small animals like squirrels and mongooses. Meerkats are territorial and protective of their burrow, fighting off other meerkat groups that try to take over. If the food supply near their burrow decreases, they will construct a new burrow in a different area, sometimes moving several times per year.

1. Meerkats
 : Kelly Coulson
Grade8

2. Meerkats live in the grassland burrows in the
Kalahari deserts and parts of south Africa. They
share their burrows with squirrels and the yellow
mongoose. Meerkats are territorial and
protective, they look after their burrow if other
meerkats try to take over. If the food supply near
their burrow decreases they make a new one in a
different are, this happens several times a year.
Habitat

3. Subspecies
 There are three types of Meerkats: Suricata
siricata from South Africa, they’re orange or
brown. Suricata majoriae from Nimibia are
white wand banded around the eyes. Suricata
iona from Angola have orange bodies and grey
heads. They are the 4th subspecies of meerkats.
Suricata is the other form of saying Meerkat.

4.  Meerkats are members of the Mongoose family. The
can stand from 10-14 inches tall and they weigh 1.5-2
lbs. Their tales length is bewteen 6 and 10 inches.
They use their tale as a tripod to stand in a upright
position. Their ears are closeable to prevent sand
from going when they dig their burrows. Their coat
is colored brown, tan, orange or grey. Their strips
and patterns on their back is different from each
meerkat. The uperside of the meerkat is sparsely
furred, showing dark skin underneath. They use this
to soak up the sun and heat for warmth.
Characteristics