Meerkats - animals, causing a smile

• Meerkats - animals, causing a smile

This cute animal immediately aroused great sympathy for himself, is only a glimpse of him. An interesting fact about meerkats is that African natives believe his solar angel who protects people from the moon devil or werewolves.

Meerkats (lat. Suricata suricatta) differ quite amusing appearance. They are small and rather slender, their body length up to 35 cm, plus a tail of about 25 cm. The animal weighs about 600-1000 grams.

Their fur is rare, hairy, covered with rows of spots and stripes on the back and sides. Meerkats have long thin legs, which are equipped with quite impressive claws.

meerkat society differs perfectly debugged social networks, they do not settle alone, and make whole clans of up to 30 individuals. For housing animals dig burrows or use ready-made premises, carefully dug their predecessors, such as ground squirrels.

Striking a unique social structure of these babies. I'm sure many will be surprised, but meerkats build their social relations on the principles of collectivism. At the meerkats have a lovely ritual, after the morning toilet and sunbathing, they exchanged caresses with each other, welcome and congratulations on the new day. Perhaps such attitudes are the result of matriarchy, prevailing in the society of these unique animals.

foraging meerkats also have a collective activity. And while the band is looking for food (eggs, insects, mice, snakes) meerkat-hour watch over the situation, and in case of danger informs his fellow beep.

In meerkats has its own system of communication, their speech involves at least a dozen different sound combinations. But what is most interesting, and it is a scientifically proven fact, in meerkats current educational system. In other words, they have their own schools and kindergartens.

The cause of the education system in meerkat society is that the mating season in adults lasts from October to March, and pregnancy in females is approximately 73-77 days. During the breeding period, the female gives several litters (2-3), each of which is usually 2 to 5 pups. At birth, the babies weigh only 25-35 grams.

In the first three weeks of life babies while their mother to earn their living, to have milk for the kids looked after by a nanny. After the seed is growing (about a year), their education take the teacher of the clan, who teach youngsters to get food.

The purpose of the adults bringing the kids food is not only sustenance of posterity, but also pedagogy. In the beginning they bring silly dead prey, then live, but immobility and only at the end of the active state.

The female meerkats - excellent mother. In case of danger they are willing to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the young.

Another feature of the animals is their unity, together, they can drive a large beast or a dangerous cobra. Meerkats are very inquisitive, but to the fore they leave the protection of the interests of the clan, so the other animals know that we should not oppose this brave and courageous animal.