Meerkats belong to the mongoose family, and are found only in the savanna and near-desert lands of southern Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". are part of a large group of hunting, meat-eating animals that also includes cats.

Meerkats weigh about 750g/1.7lb and are about 30cm/ 1ft long in the body. The meerkat uses its tail to balance when standing upright, and also for signalling. The eyes always have black patches around them. They have small black ears that can close to keep out soil when digging.

They have strong claws for digging burrows. Their back legs also help them to climb trees.

Meerkats are meat-eaters, and mainly eat insects, although they will also take lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders, plants, eggs, small mammals, millipedes, centipedes and even small birds. Meerkats are immune to the venom of scorpion. They do not store any reserves of food as fat on their bodies, so must find fresh food supplies each day.

Meerkats look for food in a group with one "sentry" on guard watching for predators while the others search for food. The meerkat standing guard makes peeping sounds when all is well. If the meerkat spots danger, it barks loudly or whistles.

Meerkats live in large underground networks with many entrances. They only go out during day.