meerkat

Everyday

1. A meerkat is a small, furry animal of the mongoose family that lives in groups in the deserts and dry grasslands of southern Africa. tree →
2. Meerkats are famous for standing up on their back legs to watch for danger. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons meerkats come up in adaptations and teamwork: one meerkat stands guard as a sentry and gives an alarm call when it sees an eagle or jackal, while the others dig for insects, scorpions and lizards. They live in underground burrows, and the dark patches round their eyes cut the glare of the sun. In everyday life meerkats are a favourite zoo animal and a famous advertising character.

Examples

• The meerkat stood on its back legs to look around. tree →
• One meerkat keeps watch while the others look for food. tree →
• Meerkats live in groups called mobs or gangs. tree →
• Meerkats can eat scorpions without getting hurt by the sting. tree →
• The meerkats dashed into their burrow when an eagle flew over. tree →
• Meerkats live in the Kalahari Desert. tree →
• The baby meerkats came out to play in the sun. tree →

Note

Plural «meerkats». It is not a cat; it is a kind of mongoose. A group is called a «mob», «gang» or «clan». Spelling: double «e».