Slender-tailed meerkat

At the Detroit Zoo
A trio of slender-tailed meerkats can be seen digging, foraging and playing at Meerkat Digs, located in the African Grasslands behind the Japanese macaque and lemur habitats.  Males Fang and Lou and female Janie are active later in the day and can often be seen wrestling, racing and grooming each other.

Description
The meerkat has dark skin and thin fur to help control its body temperature against both hot and cold conditions. Its long tail is used as for balancing while standing. It has very long, non-retractable claws and a keen sense of smell, making the animal very quick to hunt its prey.

Scientific name: Suricata suricatta
Continent: Africa
Habitat: Dry, open country with short grass and sparse woody scrub.
Size: 10-12 inches tall
Weight: Up to 2 pounds
Diet: The meerkat has a herbivore diet, mainly consuming insects, invertebrates dug up from the ground and small vertebrates.
Reproduction: Gestation 11 weeks; two to five babies per litter
Lifespan: 9 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern

FUN FACTS

Meerkats can survive without drinking water; they receive their moisture through their diet of roots and water-heavy fruits.

Meerkats create families, called mobs, which can include up to 30 members. Very rarely are new members allowed into a mob.

Meerkats work in groups to look out for one another; typically a few will stand watch while the others eat or sleep.