Made with Xara Web Designer Meerkats are amazing creatures that live in groups of up to thirty individuals called a ‘mob’, or ‘gang’, and can live for 12 to 14 years. The gang resides in grass-lined burrows that are shared with ground squirrels and yellow mongooses. Meerkats are very territorial and will fiercely defend their home from other Meerkat gangs, these can be fierce battles to the death. Every adult Meerkat has an important role in the mob. Some take on sentry duty, watching for predators and sounding the alarm when danger is present; others baby-sit, gather food or tend to housekeeping chores, they are very vocal and communicate with at least 10 different calls. They are incredibly well adapted to life in the harsh desert environment, The underside of the Meerkat has no markings, but the belly has a patch with only a sparse covering of hair showing the black skin underneath. This area absorbs heat when the Meerkat stands on its rear legs facing the sun, usually early in the morning after cold desert nights. They stand 8 inches or 20 centimetres tall, and use their tail as a tripod to balance in an upright position. They wake up well after sunrise, cautiously emerging from their burrows. Eventually, the entire colony is clustered outside the entrances, sunbathing and practicing social grooming. They then separate and start foraging. They forage separately, but keep in visual and vocal contact with each other.  Their diet, includes scorpions as Meerkats are immune to their venom, they also eat beetles, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, worms, crickets, fly larvae, termites, birds eggs, tubers and roots.   Three Stooges If you are interested in acquiring this painting or would like further information please contact me Link to Us Privacy Photo Gallery Guestbook 18"x12” -  46x30cm Acrylic on Canvas All content and artwork copyright to Stephen Gayford and may not be reproduced without permission © 2007 - 2011