Meerkats are highly social, and form packs of two to 30 individuals each that occupy home ranges around 5 km2 1.9 sq mi in area. There is a social hierarchy—generally dominant individuals in a pack breed and produce offspring, and the nonbreeding, subordinate members provide altruistic care to the pups. Breeding occurs around the year, with peaks during heavy rainfall; after a gestation of 60 to 70 days, a litter of three to seven pups is born. The meerkat Suricata suricatta or suricate is a small mongoose found in southern Africa. It is characterised by a broad head, large eyes, a pointed snout, long legs, a thin tapering tail, and a brindled coat pattern. They live in rock crevices in stony, often calcareous areas, and in large burrow systems in plains.
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