The Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a small, social mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Recognizable by its slender body, pointed snout, and bushy tail, the Meerkat is covered in a coat of tan or gray fur with darker bands on its back and a black-tipped tail. Its large eyes, encircled by dark patches, help reduce sun glare and enhance vision for spotting predators.
Meerkats are native to the arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa, including the Kalahari and Namib deserts in Botswana, Namibia, Angola, and South Africa. They thrive in open, dry areas with sparse vegetation and sandy soil suitable for burrowing.
Meerkats are omnivores, feeding on a diet of insects, small reptiles, birds, eggs, roots, and fruit. They are adept hunters, using their claws to dig for prey and their sharp teeth to handle tough food. Immune to some venom, they can eat scorpions and venomous snakes.
Living in tight-knit groups called mobs or clans, Meerkats are known for their cooperative behavior. Each group works together to dig extensive burrow systems for shelter and safety. While foraging, one Meerkat typically stands as a sentinel, scanning the surroundings for predators and issuing warning calls if danger is spotted.
                                
 
                                Ronald Pol (1977) is a nature photographer from Deventer, the Netherlands. It was during a trip to Africa that his passion for nature photography started. The main focus is on the photography of animals (portraits and behaviour), but a variety of other subjects are photographed as well... Read more…
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 Germany Water drops on the tendril of a Passion FlowerRonald Pol
Water drops on the tendril of a Passion FlowerRonald Pol Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)Ronald Pol
Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)Ronald Pol Pink Calla lily against white backgroundRonald Pol
Pink Calla lily against white backgroundRonald Pol Feathers of a Green PeafowlRonald Pol
Feathers of a Green PeafowlRonald Pol View on Deventer just before sunriseRonald Pol
View on Deventer just before sunriseRonald Pol Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa)Ronald Pol
Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa)Ronald Pol Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus)Ronald Pol
Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus)Ronald Pol Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol Little Owl (Athene noctua)Ronald Pol
Little Owl (Athene noctua)Ronald Pol Little Owl (Athene noctua)Ronald Pol
Little Owl (Athene noctua)Ronald Pol Eurasian Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)Ronald Pol
Eurasian Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)Ronald Pol Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)Ronald Pol
Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)Ronald Pol Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)Ronald Pol
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)Ronald Pol European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)Ronald Pol
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)Ronald Pol Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)Ronald Pol Eurasian Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)Ronald Pol
Eurasian Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)Ronald Pol