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I'm Cool (Meerkat / Suricate)
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Karl Daniels (webphoto)
![Silver Note Writer [C: 9 W: 7 N: 41]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-n-s.gif) (273) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-12-02 |
| Categories: Mammals |
| Camera: Kodak EasyShare Z740 |
| Exposure: f/4.9, 1/500 seconds |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-12-04 3:20 |
| Viewed: 984 |
| Points: 2 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
The meerkat /Suricate is a small diurnal herpestid (mongoose) weighing on average about 731 grams (1.61 pounds) for males and 720 grams (1.58 pounds) for females. Its long slender body and limbs give it a body length of 12 to 35 in (1 to 2 feet) and an added tail length of 17 to 24 cm (7 to 10 inches). Its tail is not bushy like all other mongoose species, but is rather long and thin and tapers to a black or reddish colored pointed tip. The meerkat uses its tail to balance when standing upright. Its face tapers, coming to a point at the nose, which is brown. The eyes always have black patches around them, which help deflect the sun's glare. The meerkat has small black crescent-shaped ears that can close when digging to keep sand out. Like cats, meerkats have binocular vision, a large peripheral range, depth perception, and eyes on the front of their faces.
At the end of each of a meerkat's "fingers" is a non-retractable, strong, 2 cm (0.8 inches) long, curved claw used for digging underground burrows and digging for prey. Claws are also used with muscular hindlegs to help climb the occasional tree. They have four toes on each foot and long slender limbs. The coat is usually fawn-colored peppered with gray, tan, or brown with a silver tint. They have short parallel stripes across their backs, extending from the base of the tail to the shoulders. The patterns of stripes are unique to each meerkat. The underside of the meerkat has no markings but the belly has a patch which is only sparsely covered with hair and shows the black skin underneath. The meerkat uses this area to absorb heat while standing on its rear legs, usually early in the morning after cold desert nights. |
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Welcome to TN. Brilliant first posting. Very good focus and well composed as well. Good notes, well done.
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 45 W: 3 N: 141]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif)
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