Meerkats

Meerkats (suricatta suricatta) are one of the most charismatic of the small mammals.

They are around 24 cm long with a 20 cm tail and weigh only a few hundred grams. Active by day, meerkats take shelter in their warm burrows at night.

They are highly sociable animals, and like to take turns to act as “look-out” from a high branch or rock, warning the rest of the group of any approaching danger. Their main enemies are birds of prey. While on guard they often stand up on their hind legs.

St Andrews Aquarium has a growing family of meerkats:

Kate & Wills are our two dominant meerkats, and they have recently given birth to five baby meerkats!

Windsor is our fourth meerkat and his name was selected by seven year old Rebekka Stewart of Pitcorthie Primary School in Dunfermline.

The Famous Five, were born last year into Kate & Wills' growing meerkat family. Named after Enid Blyton's Famous Five series, the meerkats are called Julian, Dicky, Anna, George and Timmy.

Piper was Kate & Wills' first baby. Sadly Piper passed away on 12th July and will be greatly missed by all of us.

Our latest additions to the meerkat family are Frank, Goldie and Myrrh who were born at the tail end of 2011.

Meerkat Talks: Daily at 12.20pm and 3.20pm