Evolution of the Meerkat
7TH
Holly G. Jake H. Darienne C. & James
W.
Zoology
•
•
•
Belongs to the mongoose family, in close relation to the Ground squirrel, Yellow
mongoose, Prairie dogs, Marsh mongoose, Kusimanse, Slender mongoose, Dwarf
mongoose, Indian gray mongoose, White tailed mongoose, Banded mongoose,
and Madagascar mongoose
The Meerkat is a small mammal, weighing about 2 Ibs. They are about 25 to 30
inches long in the body and 15 to 25 inches in tail length. With a tail that is not
bushy like most other mammals in their family. The meerkat has strong claws for
digging burrows and digging for prey.
Meerkats have evolved to their body features making it easier for them to evade
predators using agility and speed, shape allows them to hide easily, their limbs
are designed for navigating tunnels, not so much for making them
-they can stand on their hind legs for maximum height when scouting for
predators, their tail is used for balance
-they live in the plains, so being able to climb is useless, that is why they are
adapted for moving on or under the ground to avoid becoming lunch
-the purpose of evolution is to allow an animal to adapt to their surroundings to
survive from predators. Not only do they need to survive, but they need to do it
better or differently than anything else in the ecosystem therefore the meerkat
niche is: being small, quick, and living in tunnels simply because nothing else
does the same thing, and since they don't need to compete, it is easier to live.
Anatomist Contribution
The Meerkat is said to evolved from the
southern tip of Africa or Cape of Good Hope
evolved from the Banded Mongoose.
Banded Mongoose
Meerkat
Paleontologist Contribution
Ida was discovered in the 1980s in a fossil treasure-trove called Messel
Pit, near Darmstadt in Germany. For much of the intervening period, it
has been in a private collection.
The investigation of the fossil's significance was led by Jorn Hurum of
the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway.
He said the fossil creature was "the closest thing we can get to a direct
ancestor" and described the discovery as "a dream come true".
The female animal lived during an epoch in Earth history known as the
Eocene, which was crucial for the development of early primates - and
at first glance, Ida resembles a lemur.
But the creature lacks primitive features such as a so-called
"toothcomb", a specialised feature in which the lower incisor and
canine teeth are elongated, crowded together and projecting forward.
She also lacks a special claw used for grooming
Molecular Biology
• All of the Herpestidae family are small animals not
growing above 1 foot. Most of the family have same
diet of small insects.
• Banded mongooses are a highly social mongoose and
are closely related to the better known Meerkat. The
Meerkat and the Banded mongoose both look similar
in their appearance of body shapes, sizes, and
features. They both have the same diets, and also
engage in similar activities.