meerkat

views updated May 23 2018

meerkat (suricate) Any of a number of small carnivorous mammals closely related to the mongoose, native to the bush country of southern Africa. It is similar in appearance to the mongoose but without the bushy tail. Length: 47cm (19in). Typical species Suricata suricatta.

meerkat

views updated May 18 2018

meer·kat / ˈmirˌkat/ • n. a small southern African mongoose (Suricata and other genera), esp. the suricate.