Quick answer
Meerkats feed as Insectivore (mostly), adjusting with season, age, and local prey or plant availability.
Key takeaway
Meerkats feed as Insectivore (mostly), adjusting with season, age, and local prey or plant availability.
Diet overview
Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are best described as Insectivore (mostly). That label summarises preferred foods, not every item an individual might sample.
How they obtain food
Foraging and hunting strategies reflect anatomy and habitat. Energy-rich foods are prioritised when available; lean seasons force broader diets or longer travel.
Seasonal and life-stage shifts
Young meerkats often eat different foods or receive provisioned meals from parents. Adults may specialise regionally based on what is abundant.
Ecosystem role
As consumers in their food web, meerkats influence prey, vegetation, or nutrient cycling.
Human conflict
Do not feed wild meerkats. Habituation raises injury risk for people and animals and can lead to lethal management.
Teamwork and sentinels
Meerkats live in cooperative groups of up to 30 or more. While most of the mob forages, one or more take turns standing guard on raised ground or a bush, scanning the sky and horizon for predators. The sentinel gives different alarm calls for different threats, telling the group whether danger comes from the air or the ground.
Raising young together
Meerkats are cooperative breeders. A dominant pair produces most of the pups, and other members of the group help by babysitting, feeding, and teaching the youngsters, including how to handle dangerous prey such as scorpions. This shared care gives pups a strong chance of survival in a harsh environment.
Built for the desert
Dark patches around the eyes cut glare from the bright desert sun, like built-in sunglasses, and long claws make meerkats expert diggers of the extensive burrow systems where they shelter from heat and predators. They are partly immune to the venom of some scorpions and snakes they hunt.
Behavior and range
Found across the Kalahari and other dry regions of southern Africa, meerkats are active by day and retreat underground at night and during the hottest hours. Their tight social bonds, sunbathing huddles, and upright watch posture have made them one of the most recognizable and popular small animals.
Research notes
Figures for meerkats (Suricata suricatta) come from field studies, museum records, and conservation assessments that do not always agree on exact averages. Prefer ranges over single-point claims, and check whether a source describes wild, captive, or mixed populations.
Practical takeaways
If you encounter meerkats in the wild, prioritise distance and local guidance. If you care for related domestic or captive animals, match diet and housing to species needs rather than generic pet advice. Share accurate status information (Least Concern) when discussing conservation.
Sources
FAQs
What Do Meerkats Eat?
Meerkats feed as Insectivore (mostly), adjusting with season, age, and local prey or plant availability.
What is the scientific name of the meerkat?
Suricata suricatta
What do meerkats eat?
Insectivore (mostly)
Where do meerkats live?
Desert and dry savanna
Are meerkats endangered?
Listed here as Least Concern. Check IUCN and national lists for the latest assessment.