Adaptations
An adaptation is an inherited characteristic that increases the likelihood of survival and reproduction of an individual organism in a particular environment.
Structural Adaptations:
- Meerkats have dark patches around their eyes which reduce the glare of the sun, helping them being able to see far into the distance, enabling them to be effective lookouts for predators. They also have long, horizontal pupils that give them a wide range of colour vision without having to turn their heads around.
Meerkats eyes have a clear protective membrane layer named a nictitating membrane that shields them from dirt getting into their eyes whilst digging burrows and also act as wind shield wipers which remove of sand with every blink. Their ears are also unique in which they can close tightly to keep dirt out while digging.
Meerkats have light brown coloured fur that has a grey and brown tint to it, with stripes upon their back. Their dark skinned bellies are covered with only a thin layer of fur, allowing the Meerkats to warm themselves by lying face up in the sun. Their fur also aids in camouflage from potential predators.
Meerkats are born with a long thin tail that acts like a third leg and enables them to maintain balance when standing on their hind legs, which is essential when being on guard for potential predators.
Meerkats have only four toes on each foot, attached to these toes are very long non-retractable claws. These front claws act like shovels which create burrows to live in and to forage for food underground-insects for example.
Physiological Adaptations:
- Meerkats have a well developed immune system which allows them to eat scorpions and snakes and not be affected by their venom. Whereas a scorpion sting or snake bite could paralyze an adult and potentially kill a child.
- Meerkats have a 40% lower metabolic rate then other animals around the world. This adaptation allows meerkats to survive with less food and water.
Behavioural Adaptations:
- Meerkats live in mobs ranging from 20 to 30 individuals to increase protection from predators and to increase their chance of survival. These mobs are made up of several families made up of many roles distributed around. Roles include alpha male and female, babysitter, sentry- watches over the gang to spot danger, excavating -renovate homes, mentoring - teaching pups the do's and don'ts of life as a meerkat, grooming and play fighting.
- Communication: Meerkats usually have at least one of their family members on sentry duty. When the sentry spots danger, they use different calls for different types of emergencies. Watch the following clip from 1:50 to understand the meaning of the different calls.
Meerkat Code Clip - Meerkats bask in the morning sun after the sentry has made the 'all clear' to warm up their bodies, to prepare their body for a day of foraging. Meerkats may also warm up by play fighting, this gives order and dominance within a mob, and also teachers pups how to fight when up against greater predators.
- Meerkats mark their territory with their scent, urinating or rubbing up against their habitat, which can span 10 square kilometers. When they are invaded by predators, they stick up their tails and brush out their fur, and stand on their hind legs to make them look bigger and stronger than they are, as a survival behaviour mechanism.
