Mischievous Meerkats and Mongooses at Montecasino Bird Park!

Mischievous Meerkats and Mongooses at Montecasino Bird Park
Growing up in Africa, the adorable, Meerkat standing on his back legs in arid desert like areas seeminlgy stainding guard is a fond childhood memory. They are very socialbe creatres. The Mongoose is another little mammal we come across frequently when on our hikes, darting across the trail and scurrying into the bush in seconds.
Very often people will mistaken the two small mammals, so at the end of this blog, I have placed a short table of sorts, on the main differences between a Mongoose and a Meerkat.
Both the mongoose and meerkat are small mammals belong to the Family:  Herpestidae of Order: Carnivora. As I have already mentioned that it's common for people to mistakenly refer to these two amazing little mammals as one, they do however, exhibit notable differences between them. Mainly  distribution and physical features..

So who is the brave little Mongoose!
These Little guys are carnivorous mammals with more than 30 extant species in 14 genera, inhabiting in a range of habitats. 
They are found naturally in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Hawaii, Cuba and the Caribbean islands some populations of Mongoose have been introduced. 
These small mammals have an elongated face and body with short and round ears. Their legs are short with a long bushy-like tail that tapers at the end.
They have non-retractile claws, which are extremely useful in digging burrows. 
 Mongooses have large characteristic scent glands used in the marking of their territories. Mongooses are like the little "superman" of little mammals, as they are immune to snake venom, how awesome is that. They have acetylcholine receptors that make it impossible for the snake neurotoxin to kill them.
They will eat small insects, small mammals and worms. People often use them to kill snakes, as the mongoose has a natural talent to disarm snakes via their agile and cunning methods and with their added use of  acetylcholine receptors, they are a formidable force. Many stories around various camp fires are told of their brave and cunning snake attacks!!!

And just who is the cute Meerkat , the little “Zorro” of the Desert, other than one of my favorite little mammals that is!
 Meerkats prefer the drier desert climates of South Africa. Meerkats are a single species known as Suricata suricata, which has a geographically restricted distriction to a couple of countries around Africa. 
Their tails are long and pointed, its tip is reddish or black in colour. They have a tapered face with a very cute pointed nose, which is brown in colour. 
They have the "Zorro" characteristic black colour pataches around their eyes. 

They are actually able to close their ears to prevent dirt and sand from filling up inside them while they are digging the floor!! so cool!! 

Their shiny mischievous little eyes are located at the front of their heads allowing them to use their awesome binocular vision. 
Their fur is usually fawn in colour and is mixed with grey and tan and sometimes brown with a gorgeous silver tint.

Meerkats are mainly insectivorous, but sometimes they will eat small mammals as well.
 the little sentinel guards his team!!
 claws made for digging!!
 on his spot!!

What is the difference between Mongoose and Meerkat?

Meerkat usually inhabit dry deserts  - Mongooses can range in different climates and habitats.
Mongoose has a bushy tail b- a meerkat doesn’t.
Mongooses coat colours vary across different species – Meerkats  coat is fawn with grey and tan, or sometimes brown with silver tint.
Meerkat’s face is elongated in comparison to a mongoose’s.
Meerkats have binocular vision - a mongoose does not.
Meerkats  are able to close their ears while digging – a mongoose cannot.
Mongooses  are carnivores – Meerkats are usually insectivorous mammal.
Mongoose can attack snakes - no such reports from the meerkat as a snake attacker!.

Mongooses are immune to neurotoxins of the snake venom, while meerkats are immune to strong venoms of the scorpions.

these little guys are both such characters and just add to the charm of many of our smaller mammals you can have the privilege to see out in the wild. 

Photographs taken with my Nikon Coolpix L820

make everyday an adventure!!
warmest

Adventurekim.com

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