Meerkats

What is something dangerous a meerkat can eat?

• snakes

• bees

• scorpions

What are some of the meerkats predators? Check all the correct answers.

• bears

• artcic fox

• large birds

• jackals

How do the sentinels warn the mob of danger?

• attack the predators

• run away

• shriek loudly

• curl into a ball

When do meerkats start eating insects?

• as soon as they are born

• at three weeks old

• after a year

• at six months old

Meerkat's homes are called _______.

• burrows

• fortres

• dens

• mound

The image shows a group of meerkats.Meerkats live in habitats that are very dry, hot, and sandy. Which adaptation most likely helps the meerkats survive in their habitats?

• Meerkats have long, curly tails, so they can climb tall trees.

• Meerkats have flexible necks, so they can reach tree leaves for food.

• Meerkats have sharp claws and powerful front legs, so they can dig to get cool.

• Meerkats have sticky tongues, so they can catch insects to eat.

Read the passage carefully then answer the question.

Meerkats are small mammals. They are about the size of a squirrel. They live in the deserts and grasslands of Africa. They eat insects, reptiles, birds, and fruit. 10 to 50 meerkats live in each group. A group of meerkats is called a mob. They are very social and live close together. Every meerkat in the mob shares all the work. They all help dig their underground home, also called a burrow. They work together to protect against enemies, find food, and take care of babies.

Africa is very hot. Meerkats dig deep burrows underground where it is cool. Burrows also keep meerkats safe from predators, or animals who hunt them. Predators of meerkats include snakes, hawks, and jackals.

There are also many entrance and exit holes to meerkat burrows. The burrows are very long and have many rooms called chambers. Some chambers are where the newborn pups stay during the day while the adults hunt. There are chambers where mothers sleep with their pups. Adult meerkats sleep together in other chambers. They even have a chamber for their toilet. There are several tunnels connecting the chambers to each other. Tunnels also connect the chambers to the entrance and exit holes.

In the early morning, some meerkats will go outside to find food. These are the hunters for the day. Some of the hunters will bring living insects to the young meerkats. They are the teachers for the day. They will teach the pups how to hunt. This takes place near the burrow entrance. A few meerkats stay inside the burrow to be the babysitters for the day. They take care of the newborn meerkat pups. One or two meerkats will stand as sentries. A sentry stays near the burrow to watch for for predators. He or she stands tall on back legs to see far away. If the sentry sees danger, it calls to the other meerkats with a loud whistle. This warns the meerkats to hide in the burrow. All meerkats take turns being the hunters, babysitters, teachers, and sentries.

What is a meerkat that stands up and watches for predators called?

• sentry

• century

• watchdog

• soldier

True or False: Some animals form groups to protect themselves from predators.

• True

• False

Select ALL of the QUANTITATIVE answers below.

• There are 10 meerkats.

• The meerkats love each other!

• There are 20 eyeballs.

• There must be a predator somewhere.

What is the primary habitat of meerkats?

• Deserts and grasslands of Africa

• Rainforests of South America

• Mountains of Asia

• Arctic tundra