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Nature's Sentinel
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Meerkat
Conservation status: Lower risk
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Herpestidae
Genus: Suricata
Species: S. suricatta
Binomial name: Suricata suricatta (Schreber, 1776)
The meerkat (from Dutch monkey, from Afrikaans lake cat), or suricate, is a small mammal averaging about 2 lb (1 kg) in weight and about 20 in (500 mm) in length. A member of the mongoose family, it inhabits all parts of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa.
Meerkats have strong, curved front claws for digging and a sharply-pointed snout. They are brown with short, parallel stripes across their backs. They are known for standing upright to keep watch, search for prey or warm their stomachs. Meerkats have been known to engage in strange social activities, including what appear to be wrestling matches and foot races. More than one field researcher has reported witnessing meerkats in some sort of singing ceremony they compared to yodeling.
The meerkat is carnivorous, consuming mostly insects and spiders but also other small mammals. Meerkats are burrowing animals, living in large underground networks with multiple entrances which they leave only during the day. Colonies can consist of up to 40 individuals. They hunt in groups and protect their young.
Meerkats demonstrate altruistic behaviour within their colonies; that is, that one meerkat will always stand lookout on a nearby high point in order to warn the rest of the colony of approaching dangers.
Meerkat calls have recently been noted to carry an element of meaning, with specific calls alerting to the approach of snakes, birds of prey, or other predators. How these calls evolved is not clear. They are a clear demonstration that meaning is not solely the domain of human language, although no one would claim that the calls of the meerkat constitute a form of language.
Meerkats acquired some fame among the general public after David Attenborough narrated Meerkats United, a popular BBC documentary about them. In popular culture, the meerkat may be best known through the character Timon from the film The Lion King.
The above obtained from
IMAGE INFORMATION
Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 10:24 a.m.
Date: 5th June 2007
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM
Extender: Canon EF 1.4X II
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/250
F-Stop: F/4
Focal Length: 145mm
ISO: 200
Flash: Canon 580EX Speedlite
Support: Hand Held
Original file type: Digital Raw |
PaulH, Kathleen, vanderschelden, jcoowanitwong, rcrick has marked this note useful
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- tinman
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2663) - [2007-07-17 1:18]
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great animal and such a charactor, tfs.
Hello Pam, funny pose of the Suricata.
Nice details and compo.
Andrea
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- PaulH
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1101 W: 23 N: 3605]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(12949) - [2007-07-17 2:02]
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Hi Pam,
great portrait of these highly entertaining and sociable animals. Nice details and natiral colours, caught in a classic Meerkat pose.
tfs
Paul
Hi Pam.
These fellas are real characters, great photo of that alert stand they are so well known for. Great detail and colour. Wonderful
Kathleen
New Zealand
Hi Pam, A wonderful photo of the Meerkat, always awear but not when he is getting his photo taken, the shallow DOF is perfect & very good detail, TFS, kind regards Wilson.
Hi Pam,
Nice portrait of a meerkat. Well composed. Good background.
Pose is cute due to that claw against its body:-)
Well done
TFS
Annick
Hi Pam,
This Meerkat is very cute. Lovely pose. You captured with sharp detail and brilliant colors. Very well done and tfs this fine image.
JC
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- PeterZ
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2345 W: 92 N: 5348]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(17102) - [2007-07-17 11:06]
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Hello Pam,
Beautiful photo of this Meerkat. Very good pose, sharp and details. Composition and BG are fantastic.
Regards,
Peter
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- rcrick
(4971)
- [2007-07-17 19:38]
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Hi Pam, very nice capture good and sharp just caught some light in the eyes, really good composition. Excellent notes as well .....tfs Rick
