Meerkat, Slender-tailed

Length: 25 - 35 cm (9.8 - 13.6 in)
Weight: Up to .95 kg (25 oz)

Meerkats have long, slender bodies and legs, powerful claws and a thin tail which is tapered to a point. Their almost-white faces feature a pointed nose and a rounded forehead with dark eye patches and small, crescent-shaped ears. The colour of their soft coat varies geographically, but is typically peppered gray, tan, or brown with a silver tint. Their tails are yellowish in colour and have a distinctive solid black tip.

Though they prefer to use burrows from other small mammals, they are experts at digging, and use this skill both to create their own burrows when necessary and to dig out insects from under stones or crevices that they have located using their impressive sense of smell.

They are most active during the day. Individuals take turns watching out for predators such as jackals. The lookout stands on its hind legs or perches in a bush and scans the sky and land looking for predators while the other members of the colony forage for food.