MEERKAT (Suricata suricatta)
Pronounced:	Soo-ri-kot-u soo-ri-kot-u								Order:	Carnivora
Kingdom:	Animalia								Family:	Herpestidae
Phylum:	Chordata								Genus:	Suricata
Class:	Mammalia								Species:	Suricatta

Meerkats are best known for sitting, frozen in place, in groups on the open plains, while they survey the area for dangers. They are an organized species, with some individuals in charge of danger lookout while others search for food in groups and alone. They eat lizards, snakes, eggs, birds and fruit.
 
Two to four young are born each year. She’s not the only one taking care of them, though. Brothers, sisters and fathers all help to teach the young about hunting and safety. They live in labyrinths underground, safe from the African sun, and their predators (which are many).  Eages and other large birds or prey, snakes and mammals such as hyenas are some of the creatures that prey on meercats.  If they manage to escape predation, they can live up to 14 years.