Slender-tailed, or grey meerkats, weigh about when fully grown and reach about 50cm long. They are mainly a tan colour
Slender-tailed, or grey meerkats, weigh about when fully grown and reach about 50cm long. They are mainly a tan colour but do have broken, dark brown bands across their back and sides as well as black eye rings and tips to their tails. They are found in semi-arid regions of Africa and feed on animals such as grubs, scorpions and snakes. Meerkats are the most social members of the Mongoose family, living in groups called mobs, averaging 24 members but sometimes reaching up to 30. Teamwork and co-operation are the secrets of the meerkats success in such a hostile environment. Each individual has clearly defined duties such as sentry, baby-sitter, hunter or teacher. The sentries adopt the typical upright Meerkat pose, usually from the highest point around, whilst scanning the sky and surroundings for danger. If danger threatens, they bark out a warning and the whole group flees to their burrows, other animals are also warned. Meerkats often confront predators by grouping together, arching their bodies and bristling their fur to make themselves look like one big animal to scare and confuse predators. Meerkats are not currently threatened in the wild, but with increased habitat destruction, this could change in the future.
Size: 5184px × 3456px
Location: Colchester, Essex, England
Photo credit: © Mark Redsell / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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