Kool Kats From The Kalahari
Meerkats, of course! These rambunctious little creatures are about the size of squirrel, and live in burrows in the Kalahri Desert and in parts of South Africa. They often share their burrows with mongoose, (whose family they are a part of), and ground squirrels.
They live together in colonies known also as 'clans' that average 20-30 members. They are very social, and work as a team to protect the clan, and raise and train their young. They have been seen to engage socially in wrestling (play fighting), and even having races.
One or more meerkats is always standing guard, as a sentry, over the clan. They alert the others of predators such as snakes, birds of prey, and jackals, with a loud bark. The sentries are continously searching the sky, and young ones will often run to a burrow and hide when a plane flies overhead.
Meerkats have long sharp claws, and can move up to three times their own weight in dirt in just a few seconds when foraging for food. They eat insects such as spiders, beetles, worms, and even scorpions (they are immune to the scorpion's venom).
The underside of the meerkat has a patch with very little fur where it's black skin shows through, and they absorb the heat of the morning sun by laying on their backs, or sitting or standing with this area exposed.
Meerkats are also quite tidy... they use a central "toilet" area :)
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