Anti-Predatory Behavior of Meerkats

Meerkats are socially foraging animals and therefore do not engage in predatory behavior. The only live food they eat consists of insects and very rarely small rodents, so they do not have a high need to engage in predatory behavior. This being said, meerkats are small in stature and are the prime target meal for many animals--including birds such as hawks and eagles. For this reason, meerkats must engage in anti-predatory behavior in order to keep themselves and their group members alive.

The anti-predatory behavior most seen in the meerkat species is alarm-sounding. Like I discussed in previous posts, one meerkat is on sentry duty at all time (unless the entire group is in their underground burrow system) and it is this meerkat's job to alarm the group to any intruding predators. If a potential predator becomes visible to the sentry, they will let out a familiar high-pitched bark that warns the others that they are in danger and should run for cover and protect the young meerkats in the group. This alarm call also functions as a scare-tactic and will sometimes warn predators and make them retreat.

                                       Meerkats standing alert and watching for predators.
Meerkats who are not on sentry duty also display anti-predatory behaviors. If a predator becomes visible or a warning alarm is sounded, meerkats will either maintain a tall, alert stance (mainly the males in the group) or crouch down to cover the young meerkats who have not yet learned self defense. A meerkat may also run for cover if the burrow is close or the danger is too immediate. If the group is relatively close together, they will engage in mobbing of the predator, a technique I described in a previous post. If a meerkat faces a predator on its own, it will quickly lay on its back and bare its teeth and claws, growling and barking to try to get the predator to retreat. This is a defensive move that protects the meerkats back and spinal cord--making it less likely that they will sustain a life-threatening injury if an attack ensues.

                                  Meerkats covering their young for protection from predators. 
Much of the anti-predator behaviors displayed by meerkats are taught to the young both through actual experience with predators approaching the group and through observational learning of the older meerkats by the younger ones. The certain alarm calls made by meerkats on sentry duty is also thought to be a learned skill since each group has their own, slightly different alarm call.

                                        A meerkat in defensive stance, with teeth bared. 
Living in groups greatly increases the chances of a meerkat's survival, since the alarm call from the sentry accounts for a majority of the winning encounters with prey. The use of this and other anti-predatory behaviors by meerkats allows them to do an extensive amount of foraging without worrying about getting eaten by the many predators roaming nearby.

Resources:
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/366/1567/978.full
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/hustad_aman/Interactions.htm
http://www.kalahari-meerkats.com/mk_db/?p=115