Pups are meerkat babies, 10 months old or younger. They can live in very large groups, and each group has a dominant female and male.

Most meerkats within the same group are all siblings and offspring of the alpha pair. Meerkats exhibit a monogamous mating system, meaning that the dominant male and female of each group are usually the only individuals to successfully breed. Although the dominant female is the only female allowed to breed in the meerkat community, she's responsible for only 80 percent of litters produced [source: National Geographic ].

When mating does occur between meerkat relatives, it often results in negative fitness consequences or inbreeding depression. Meerkats are one of planet Earth's most endearing species, and yet they have a well-documented dark side. Meerkats have extensive and complex social lives within clans. Courtship behavior is a behavior in which males and females of the same species prepare for mating. This is the story of baboon Charlie who wants to be leader instead of the leader in the baboons community in Amersfoort-ZOO in Holland where … Meerkats are well known for their upright position and sociable behaviour. Meerkats are small animals; adults are only about 1.5 or 2 pounds, and between one and two feet long. During mating, the male grips the female around the middle to maintain his position until copulation has ended (van Staaden, 1994). Mating System; cooperative breeder; Females typically breed at about 24 months of age (Clutton-Brock et al., 1999). Meerkats are matriarchal, and the alpha female chooses the alpha male. The male Meerkat initiates the process by fighting the female. Meerkats are co-operative breeding animals and have a complex social system. They live in Mobs of 5-50 individuals consisting of a Alpha pair and their offspring which remain in their natal group until adulthood.

Inbreeding depression was evident for a variety of traits: pup mass at emergence from the natal burrow, hind-foot length, growth until independence and juvenile survival.

The males differ from all other objects and forms of life in their environment in a special way: they possess an intensely red throat and belly, which serve as signals to females and other… Meerkats reach sexual maturity right around their first birthday, and some beta females will …

Cooperation is the key to the feeding habits of meerkats, the slender mongooses of the Kalahari Desert. Female meerkats will raise their daughters to maturity, but … Meerkat Description. The Diet and Feeding Habits of the Meerkat. The gestation period in meerkats lasts for about 11 weeks. For their safety, young meerkats are born underground where they stay with their mother for about 3 weeks. [29] Meerkats demonstrate altruistic behavior within their colonies. In the face of resistance, he will wrestle her until she submits. When the leaders' offspring reach maturity, they take their place as subordinates and assist in raising younger litters. In addition to the alpha couple, the gang consists of beta males, beta females and pups. Other articles where Mating is discussed: animal behaviour: Sensory-motor mechanisms: …when these fish defend their mating territories in the springtime against intrusions from rival male sticklebacks. Beta males and beta females are all the meerkats in the … The Meerkat (suricate Suricata suricatta) is also called a ‘Suricate’. Biology. The Meerkat is a small member of the mongoose family whose range extends from South West Angola to South Africa. Meerkat Babysitting Burrow. Mother is queen in these matriarchal societies, and the dominant female has the last word on every “decision” within the group.