Meerkats are highly social animals native to the arid landscapes of southern Africa, including the Kalahari Desert. These small mammals live in large family groups called mobs, where cooperation is fundamental to their survival. They are diurnal, spending most of their daylight hours actively foraging for food. This exploration will delve into their diet, the social strategies they use to acquire food, and the unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in water-scarce regions.
Are Meerkats Omnivores?
Meerkats are classified within the order Carnivora, but their varied natural diet means they are functionally considered omnivores. While their nutrition focuses overwhelmingly on animal protein, they consume plant matter when available. They are primarily insectivorous, meaning insects and other small invertebrates form the bulk of their meals, providing necessary protein and moisture.
Their diet is rich in arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars, and termites. They also consume scorpions, often disabling the stinger before eating the prey, and appear immune to the venom. Beyond invertebrates, they are opportunistic hunters, preying on small vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, small birds, eggs, and rodents.
Collaborative Foraging Techniques
Meerkats spend between five and eight hours daily foraging, relying on coordinated group behavior to maximize efficiency. They use their exceptional sense of smell to detect prey hidden beneath the desert sand. Once located, the meerkat uses its long, powerful foreclaws to rapidly dig and unearth the food item.
A single meerkat can excavate hundreds of small holes over the course of a morning’s hunt, displacing a volume of sand equivalent to up to 50 times its own body weight. The group typically forages together, moving across the landscape while each member searches independently.
This group foraging is protected by the sentinel, or guard, system. While the majority of the mob digs and hunts, one or more individuals climb to an elevated position, such as a mound or rock, to scan for predators. This guard duty is announced with a continuous, soft vocalization known as the “watchman’s song,” signaling safety to the group.
When a sentinel spots a threat, especially aerial predators like eagles, they emit a sharp alarm call. This prompts the entire mob to immediately rush for the safety of a nearby burrow. Sentinel shifts typically last around 20 minutes, with meerkats rotating the duty. This collective security measure allows the foraging members to devote more time to acquiring food.
Hydration and Specialized Dietary Adaptations
Meerkats are adapted to the arid climate of the Kalahari Desert, having a low dependence on free-standing water, which is often unavailable. The majority of their hydration is acquired directly from the food they consume.
The insects and small vertebrates in their primary diet contain high water content, satisfying most of their daily fluid needs. Foraging for moisture is important during dry seasons when prey may be less succulent. To supplement this, meerkats include specific plant items in their diet.
They actively seek out and excavate subterranean storage organs, such as bulbs, roots, and tubers. These plant parts serve a dual purpose: providing carbohydrates for energy and acting as a reservoir of water. Tsama melons and other moisture-rich plants are also consumed for their hydrating properties.