My mystery animal by Maisie Gravestock-7W. I am a mammal, therefore a vertebrate, who lives in not...

3
My mystery animal by Maisie Gravestock-7W

Transcript of My mystery animal by Maisie Gravestock-7W. I am a mammal, therefore a vertebrate, who lives in not...

Page 1: My mystery animal by Maisie Gravestock-7W. I am a mammal, therefore a vertebrate, who lives in not only the African plains but also parts of the Kalahari.

My mystery animal

by Maisie Gravesto

ck-7W

Page 2: My mystery animal by Maisie Gravestock-7W. I am a mammal, therefore a vertebrate, who lives in not only the African plains but also parts of the Kalahari.

I am a mammal, therefore a vertebrate, who lives in not only the African plains but also parts of the Kalahari Dessert of Botswana, much of the Namib Dessert of Namibia and south-western Angola. I have a long, slender body and limbs with a total length of 14 to 20inches.

I have a varied diet which consists of insects, lizards, birds and fruit. Sometimes I even treat myself to scorpions, but I have to be careful of predators. I get hunted by martial eagles, tawny eagles and jackals. I sometimes die of snake bites from puff adders or cape cobras.

I don’t live on my own, but in a group which can be called a mob, gang or a clan. I have between 20 and 50 family members and we each live for about 8 years in the wild.

I am the only member of my genus (suricata). I am between 10 and 20 inches tall when up on my hind legs and I weigh 1.5-2.5 pounds. My mob and I communicate with purring sounds and we also use a sharp shrill call as a sign for all to take cover. I have a tan/grey coat and dark patches of fur around my eyes. I belong to the mongoose family.

extra clue.

Page 3: My mystery animal by Maisie Gravestock-7W. I am a mammal, therefore a vertebrate, who lives in not only the African plains but also parts of the Kalahari.

Who am I?

!I’m a meerkat!

QUICK FACT

Mothers can nurse their young while standing!

Mothers can nurse their young while standing

QUICK FACT

Females give birth to

two to four young

each year in one of

the group's burrows.

QUICK FACTYoung meerkats are so fearful of predatory birds that even airplanes will send them diving for cover.