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MEERKAT
SURICATE (SURICATA SURICATTA) - above right. |
| Size: |
Length: 25-35cm, Tail: 17-25cm, Weight: 600-975g. |
| Habitat: |
Savannah. |
| Distribution: |
Southern Africa (Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Botswana). |
| Diet: |
Insects, spiders and other small animals, succulent’s and bulbs. |
| Socialisation: |
Suricate (Meerkats) are diurnal. They live in colonies of up to 30. The groups consist of 2-3 family units comprising a male, a female and their 2-5 young. They usually inhabit the burrows of ground squirrels, which they enlarge by digging with their sharp claws. When emerging from their burrows in the early morning, they tend to sunbathe before spending the day foraging for small prey.
CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR WILD MEERKAT TOUR INFORMATION. |
PORCUPINE
HYSTRIX AFRICAEAUSTRALIS Above left. |
| Weight: |
Both males and females weigh 20-25kg. |
| Lifespan: |
12-14 years. |
| Gestation period: |
3 months. |
| Diet: |
Porcupines feed mainly on roots. They also eat the dark bark from trees which they chew and tear off with their sharp incisors. |
| Socialisation: |
Porcupines are primarily nocturnal, moving alone or in small groups or solitary. |
AARDWOLF
PROTELES CRISTATUS Above right. |
| Description: |
The aardwolf looks like a small striped hyeana. It's name in Afrikaans means "earth wolf", because it lives in underground burrows. It feeds on larvae and termites and dead animals. It is called an insectivore, because carnivores that eat primarily (or only) insects are called insectivores. When compared to its much larger cousin, the hyena, the Aardwolf is shy and small. They are solitary compared to group behavior in hyenas. The Aardwolf has big ears to hear termites underground when it is hunting and also has a good sense of smell. |
AARDVARK
ORYCTEROPUS AFER Below left. |
| Weight / size: |
110 to 180 lbs (50 to 82 kg). Head and body, 43 to 53 in (109 to 135 cm); Tail, 21 to 26 in (53 to 66 cm). |
| Lifespan: |
23 years in captivity |
| Diet: |
Found throughout southern Africa, aardvarks use their keen sense of smell to sniff out their favorite food—termites. Omnivores. |
| Did you know? |
An aardvark's tongue can be up to 12 in (30.5 cm) long and is sticky to help extract termites from the earthen mounds. |
BAT-EARED FOX
OTOCYON MEGALOTIS Above right. |
| Weight / size: |
Body length: 50-60cm; Tail: 30-35cm; Stands: 35-40cm; Weight: 3-4.5kg. |
| Habitat: |
Open woodland, grassy plains. |
| Distribution: |
There are two primary populations; one in South Africa and the other in East Africa. |
| Diet: |
Insects, particularly termites and grasshoppers. A small percentage of their diet includes lizards, small birds, eggs, small mammals and fruit. |
| Reproduction: |
After a gestation period of two months, the female gives birth to 1-5 cubs. |
| Socialisation: |
Nocturnal, animals, Bat-eared foxes live in pairs and both partners rear the cubs. |
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© De Zeekoe Guest Farm 2011
Oudtshoorn ACCOMMODATION, CAPE Route 62, Klein karoo, western cape, south africa
luxury farm accommodation oudtshoorn, B&B, GUEST FARM, guest house, meerkat adventures, restaurant, weddings & small functions, kknk ACCOMMODATION, Oudshoorn
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