Meerkat
Suricata suricatta
Body Length:10" to 14"
Body Length:7" to 10"
Height:Up to 20" when standing
Weight:1.4 to 2 lbs.
Geographic Distribution:Western parts of southern Africa, western and southern Namibia, southwestern Botswana, northern and western South Africa, and extreme southwestern Angola
Habitat:Dry areas (including the Namib and Kalahari Deserts), with sandy or hard and even stony ground; they avoid forests, mountains, and true deserts
Wild Diet: Principally insects, including beetles, beetle larvae and butterfly larvae, spiders, centipedes, and scorpions; also bird and reptile eggs, rats, mice, small birds, lizards, snails, and plants
Zoo Diet:Cat food, dry dog food, vegetables, bugs (crickets, mealworms, etc.), ribs, fish, and mice
Status in the Wild:Least Concern
Location:Desert's Edge