This cute little animal immediately aroused great sympathy for himself, is only a glimpse of him. An interesting fact about meerkats is that African natives consider it a solar angel, who protects people from the moon devil or the werewolf.
Meerkats (Latin Suricata suricatta) differ quite amusing appearance. They are small and rather slender, the length of their bodies up to 35 cm, plus a tail of about 25 cm Weight animal is about 600-1000 grams.
Their coat is sparse, shaggy, covered with rows of spots and stripes on the back and sides. Meerkats have long, thin legs, which are provided with a rather impressive claws.
Society is different meerkats perfectly debugged social connections, they do not settle alone, and make the whole clans of up to 30 individuals. For housing animals dig burrows or use ready-made facilities, carefully dug their predecessors, such as ground squirrels.
Strikes a unique social structure of these babies. I'm sure many will be surprised, but meerkats are building their social relations on the principles of collectivism. We have one adorable meerkats ritual after the morning shower and sunbathing, they exchanged caresses each other, greet and congratulate the beginning of a new day. Perhaps these attitudes are the result of matriarchal society prevailing in these unique animals.
Foraging meerkats also have a collective activity. And while the group searches for food (eggs, insects, mice, snakes) meerkat-hour watch over the situation, and in the case of emergency alerts his fellow beep.
Do meerkats has its own system of communication, their speech includes at least a dozen different sound combinations. But what is most interesting, and it is a scientifically proven fact, meerkats have a system of education. In other words, they have their own schools and kindergartens
The cause of education in society meerkats is that the mating season in adults lasts from October to March and pregnancy in females is about 73-77 days. During mating season, the female gives several litters (2-3), each of which is usually from 2 to 5 cubs. At birth the babies weigh only 25-35 grams.
During the first three weeks of life, babies while their mother earn their livelihood in order to have milk, the kids looked after by a nanny. Once the seed is growing up (about a year), they take on education teacher clan who taught young to get food.
The purpose of adults bringing food to kids is not only food offspring, but also the pedagogy. In the beginning they bring silly dead prey, then alive, but immobility and only at the end of the active state.
Females meerkats - great mother. In an emergency, they are ready to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the young.
Another distinctive feature of the animals is their unity, together, they can drive a large animal or a dangerous cobra. Meerkats are very curious, however, to the fore they go out to protect the interests of the clan, so other animals know that against this brave and courageous animal act is not necessary.
