Predators and the closest relatives of mongooses-meerkats animals that are a bit like raccoons, rodents and even monkeys. Meerkats are distinguished from other mongooses by their high legs, four-toed paws, strong tail, and lack of the first false-rooted tooth.

Social behavior

In the meerkat family (the number of individuals in the family is up to 30), matriarchy reigns. The main female chooses the burrow in which the family will live, the place of feeding, and, most importantly, only she has the right to give birth to cubs. The dominant male forms a pair with the main female and becomes the father of all the babies.

Reproduction

Pregnancy lasts 70-77 days. From 2 to 5 cubs weighing 25-30 g are born. After feeding the babies, the mother goes hunting with her group, and the "nanny" remains with the children, who does not leave them until the other members of the group return. An interesting fact is that the cubs are fed milk not only by the mother, but also by other females of the group.

Species and people

Meerkats are easily tamed. Local residents make their homes in order to protect your home from venomous animals like Scorpions, spiders or centipedes.

Interesting Facts

The meerkat family has a certain group smell. This is the result of the animals marking each other.

Meerkats teach the young: children not only watch the hunt, the older ones show them how to do it.