Meerkat
The Meerkat (or Suricata suricatta) is a species of social mongoose found in complex underground burrows in the savannahs and semi-deserts of Southern Africa.
Meerkats have a flat, pointed head and a sandy-coloured face with black eyes and ears. They have a mottled pattern of grey and yellow fur on their back and a pointed, black tipped tail. Meerkats move on all fours but assume a distinctive stance on their hind legs when alert.
The Meerkat has a head-body length of 24cm to 35cm and weighs between 0.62kg and 0.97kg. Females tend to be heavier than males.
Suricata suricatta
Habitat needs
Space is stored as a minimum plus an amount per additional adult; the game's help adds that juveniles don't count. Plan a mixed habitat in the habitat planner.
Dislikes rain and snow.
Terrain
| Terrain | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Sand | 30% | 70% |
| Soil | 20% | 70% |
| Rock | 0% | 30% |
| Short Grass | 0% | 30% |
| Waterlogged | 0% | 5% |
Share of the habitat's terrain.
Shares a cohabitation group with 2
African savannah group2
Cohabitation groups are the game's own sets of species for mixed habitats. Check space, terrain and temperature for a group in the habitat planner.
Barriers with resistance grade 1 or higher 16
- Hedge grade 1 · $0.80 · climbable
- Fabric Netting grade 1 · $1 · climbable
- 1-Way Glass grade 2 · $1
- Chain Link grade 2 · $1 · climbable
- Corrugated grade 2 · $1
- Rope Netting grade 2 · $2 · climbable
- Glass grade 3 · $2
- Wire Netting grade 3 · $2 · climbable
- Wood Logs grade 3 · $2 · climbable
- Acrylic grade 4 · $3
- Steel Mesh grade 4 · $3 · climbable
- Thick Glass grade 4 · $3
- Brick grade 5 · $4
- Concrete grade 5 · $4
- Gabion grade 5 · $4 · climbable
- Electric grade 6 · $0.80
At least 1.25 m high. No water barrier. Grades are the ones the game's barrier tooltips state.
Enrichment it uses 5
- Tennis Ball Toy · score 100 · $100
- Tunnel Toy · score 150 · $150
- Cardboard Box Toy · score 100 · $100
- Rattle Toy · score 50 · $100
- Treasure Box Toy · score 150 · $500
Enrichment target: toys 80 + 15 per additional adult; feeders 5 + 3 per additional adult.
Food, life and breeding
- Food
- Ground Meat + Mealworms
- Food / drink amount
- 1 / 2.5
- Food cost, grade 1 / 2 / 3
- $176 / $240 / $240
- Feeders
- Termite Mound, Food Tray - Large, Food Tray - Small, Bamboo Feeder, Skittle Feeder
- Lifespan
- 12–20 yr
- Mature / prime / old / elderly
- 3 yr / 5 yr / 8 yr / 11 yr
- Gestation / between births
- 0.18 yr / 0.82 yr
- Litter
- 1–3
- Fertility
- 0.5
- Mating system
- Polyandrous
- Breeds in
- All seasons
- Dominance
- Alpha female in matriarchal society
- Ecosystem roles
- Soil Rooters, Small Prey
- Wild population
- Unknown
- Guests flee if it escapes
- No
Meerkats live in family packs and are considered to be ‘eusocial’, meaning highly socially organised and pack members have strongly defined roles within their group. The alpha female is determined by age and size, but younger females will vie for the position as she gets older.
Overview
- Scientific name
- Suricata suricatta
- Class
- Mammalia
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
- Biome
- Desert, Grassland
- Continent
- Africa
- Cohabitation groups
- African savannah group2
- Content
- Base game