Points

15

per confirmed sighting

Least ConcernUncommon
mammals • Herpestidae

Meerkat.

M

Suricata suricatta

A cooperative desert mongoose famous for its upright sentry posture.

Category

mammals

Family

Herpestidae

Size

25–35 cm plus tail, 0.6–1 kg

Points

15 pts

Log a sighting

A closer look

Field notes for spotting, identifying and understanding meerkat in its natural range.

Overview

A cooperative desert mongoose famous for its upright sentry posture.

How to identify it

Slim tan body with faint dark bands across the back, dark eye patches, pointed tail.

Habitat

EltonTraits foraging-stratum classification: ground-dwelling/terrestrial (including aquatic ground-associated coding).

Diet

Insects, scorpions, small reptiles

Behaviour

—

When to look

EltonTraits activity classification: diurnal.

Where to see it

South Africa flagSouth AfricaNamibia flagNamibiaBotswana flagBotswanaAngola flagAngola
  • Kgalagadi Transfrontier ParkZA
  • Namib-Naukluft ParkNA

Safety and etiquette

Observe from a vehicle or a safe distance and never feed wildlife.

Verification and sources

1500 verified species across ten Southern African countries. Spotted an error? Tell us through community guidelines.