Meerkats
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Meerkats are usually fawn-colored peppered with gray (tan or brown with a silver tint). They have short parallel stripes on their backs and black patches around their eyes. The stripes on their back are unique to each meerkat. Their ears are small, black, crescent-shaped ears that can close to block out dirt when they are digging. They have thin fur that is a great conductor of heat because they don't sweat. They can manage their temprature well. They are born alive with no hair and pink skin so they are mammals. Their young are called pups. They are warm-blooded. They live in underground burrows and deserts in South Africa, most live in the Kalahari Desert unless in captivity. They are omnivores because they eat small rodents, bugs, fruit, and plants they are able to find. They have job groups and one is a watchmen and they watch for danger and send signals if they're in danger. They either run underground or form a big mob to scare the other animals away. They are listed as a "lower risk" on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). An interesting fact about meerkats is that they lose 5% of their body weight every time they go out to hunt for food during the night. Please come and check out our magnificent meerkat exhibit to learn more about them!