The Meerkat's Diet

Meerkats, carnivorous mammals that live in South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe, consume a diet primarily of live animals and insects that are found underground.

Types

A typical diet for a meerkat includes insects, birds, small rodents, lizards, scorpions, snakes, eggs, ant larvae and fruit. Meerkats drink water when it is made available.

Territory

The size of the area where a meerkat hunts depends upon the amount of food available. The typical meerkat territory is four to six square miles, but it can extend to up to 150 square miles. Meerkats hunt a different section within their territory each day.

Foraging

Meerkats usually hunt alone; however, they sometimes hunt together in order to kill and consume a larger animal, such as a lizard. They hunt daily and eat in small portions.