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

Meerkat Reproduction

Meerkats are an iteroparous species, meaning they can reproduce at any time of the year--although many of the births happen in the summer season when it is warm and food sources are plentiful. Although meerkats live in groups and raise their young in a communal way, only the alpha male and female of each group are allowed to reproduce. The alpha female is a position that is fought for and is typically won by the largest female in the group. The alpha male is similarly decided. If the alpha female dies, she is typically replaced by a member that shares her or the alpha male's familial lines--such as her daughter, sister. etc.--and when this occurs reproduction among the alphas ceases to happen.

Beta females can also reproduce. This often happens with roaming males or males of outside groups, but can sometimes be with beta males from their same group. Their pups are immediately in danger since the alpha female only allows her own pups to live in the group and will kill and eat the beta's pups if she finds them. Many beta females will abort their pregnancy prior to giving birth and some will attempt to integrate their pups with the alpha's pups, hoping no one will notice. This seldom works and often leads to their pups getting killed. Some beta females will leave when they get pregnant and will either try to form their own group or join and become the alpha female of another existing group.

A female meerkat's gestation period is 70 days. They have between 3 and 5 pups to a litter and have, on average, 4 litters a year. When the alpha female is ready to mate she will chase all of the female-bearing meerkats from the group (this being any female that is of pup-bearing age--10 months or older). These outcasted females will follow the group but will not be allowed back in until the alpha female has her pups and regains enough strength to walk around and forage again. This outcast period is often when beta females will become pregnant from roaming males, but they will often abort these births since they will soon have to help care for the alpha's pups. Once the beta females are allowed back into the group, they all pitch in and start to care for and feed the pups. Females who are able to bear pups are often able to lactate and help the alpha female in feeding the pups while she goes out to feed and forage for food for the group. Interestingly, if an alpha's pups die, no one will eat it. If an alpha pup is killed, the meerkat who did the killing will be ejected from the group.

                                            Meerkat female towards the end of gestation.

Meerkat pups are not born completely functional. They are born hairless and with their eyes closed. It takes about 2 weeks for them to be able to open their eyes and several more days for their ears to function. No pups leave the burrow for the first 3 weeks of their life. During this time the females take turns babysitting them inside the burrow when the group goes out to look for food. After 3 weeks, the pups can leave with supervision, and often accompany the older meerkats on foraging trips. They learn how to find food and the older meerkats mentor them and feed them until they learn to become self-sufficient--which takes about 2 or 3 months. At this time they are on their own to find food and are no longer dependent on the elder meerkats. It is very important that the pups are taught how to find food because they are born with virtually no instinctual behaviors for feeding themselves.

                                     Meerkat pups drinking milk from an adult female in their group.

Meerkats are sexually mature at 10 months and will either leave the group at this time or stay with the group and become a beta female or male. Sometimes they will leave in groups to form their own group in order to have a chance for reproduction. Some meerkats will stay in their birthing group for up to 3 years before venturing out to a new group. The alpha male and female will mate for life, as long as neither of them is fought out of the position.

                                 A pup meerkat shortly after leaving the burrow for the first time.

Meerkat groups definitely live by the motto: "It takes a village to raise a child"--or in this case a pup! :)

Resources:
http://www.meerkats.net/info.htm#Mating and reproduction
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/mammals/meerkats3.htm
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/313/5784/227.abstract

Territorial Behavior of Meerkats

Meerkats are extremely social animals. They can be observed interacting with one another--doing things such as grooming, wrestling and "communicating" with their fellow gang members. The babies of the females can often be found playing with the other babies in the gang and their is a community babysitter assigned to watch all of the babies while the others look for food. As I said in the last post, they also take turns on sentry duty to alert the gang of potential dangers.

                                                  Meerkat babies playing and wrestling.


Because community living is so crucial to the meerkat's survival, they are rarely territorial towards members of their gang. Instances of fighting can be seen when a meerkat invades another's space for food or between the alpha males and other males during mating season, but in general the meerkats of a certain gang are very respectful of one another.

Meerkat territorial behavior is seen between rival gangs. If one gang starts to encroach on another gang's burrow system, they will start to dig furiously and create a dust cloud in order to distract the attacking gang and get them to go away. If the gang continues to approach, a fight will break out. Both gangs will engage in what is called "mobbing"--grouping together, fluffing out their fur, jumping and barking loudly--in order to make themselves look bigger and stronger than their opponent. If the alpha male decides the gang has a good chance of fighting successfully, he will give a signal to go ahead and fight. At this point, each meerkat (besides the babies and the assigned babysitter/protector) will go after a rival meerkat and attempt to kill them. Sometimes meerkats will double -team the dominant male/female of the opposing group in order to decrease the chances of the gangs survival.

                                                    2 rival meerkats fighting over territory.


The end of the fight is signaled by either the death or abandonment of an entire gang. The alpha male will determine the win and either signal for the fleeing of the remaining surviving members or alert the gang that they are now safe and the fight is over.

Territorial fighting can also be seen between meerkats when a beta male or female breaks off from his/her gang and tries to join a new one in hopes of finding a better chance for mating. The new gang will initially see this as an intrusion and start a fight with the lone meerkat. If they survive and successfully integrate into the new gang, they will be accepted by other members and no longer be seen as an intruder. In some cases, a couple of beta males/females will group together and try to take over an existing gang. This is a rare win, but if they do succeed, they automatically become the new alpha male and female for that gang.

Overall, meerkats are not very ferocious animals. They show much affection and care for their fellow gang members, often marking them with their scent, grooming and licking them--activities that are only done to accepted gang members. Much fighting is done together in order to protect the gang and their home. Moral of the story: meerkats may look nice, cute and friendly, but mess with their gang and you're in trouble!

                                           Same-gang meerkats grooming each other.

Resources:
http://www.meerkats.net/info.htm
http://ladywildlife.com/animals/meerkat.html
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/mammals/meerkats.html