Meerkat Suricata suricatta

The Meerkat, also called Suricat, is a mongoose native to the Kalahari and Namib deserts of Southern Africa and to South Africa.

There are three subspecies, each in a different area; the one shown here is the most common and the nominate Slender-tailed Meerkat. The subspecies are fairly similar in appearance.

Meerkats live in groups of some two or three dozen with a highly-developed social structure led by the dominant pair which are typically the only breeding pair, with others, male and female, taking babysitting, foraging, teaching and look-out duties for the clan. (The alpha parents never babysit.)

One or two are always on lookout for danger (predators) while others are sleeping, sunbathing, digging burrows or foraging.

More guard duty.