Meerkats, also called suricates, are members of the mongoose family native to the southern African plains. They live in mobs (yes, that"s what a group of meerkats is called) of 20 to 50 animals that work together and share extensive networks of underground burrows. Our friend today, photographed in Namibia, appears to be on sentry duty, which is when a meerkat stands lookout for predators as the rest of the group forages for food, such as insects, small reptiles, and other delicacies. A sentry shift usually lasts about an hour, after which another meerkat takes over and the now-relieved sentry gets to focus on filling its belly.
A meerkat stands alone
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Looking down on the Otter
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Castle on a hill
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Cecropia leaf and lobster claw petals in Mexico
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Let s get lost
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Hello, spring!
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World Theatre Day
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Oregon
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Halloween
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Endangered Species Day
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What are these creatures?
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Celebrating Flag Day
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Iceland awaits the Yule Lads
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The birthplace of Cinco de Mayo
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Grand Teton National Park
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Opt outside today
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Rice processing in Bangladesh
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Lunar eclipse
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Halo around the sun
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Florentine garden brings generations together
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The confluence of the Arve and Rhône Rivers
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There’s a dog in there somewhere
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A. M. Foster Bridge in Cabot, Vermont
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Poppies for Armistice Day
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Cannes, France, in the spotlight
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Frozen fun in the Canadian cold
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
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World Migratory Bird Day
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It’s Giving Tuesday
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Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
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Beech trees and wild anemones, Jutland, Denmark