A meerkat mob usually has about 20 to 30 members, all living together in a network of underground burrows. In the morning, they all come out and turn to face the rising sun, warming their dark belly skin like tiny solar panels after the cold desert night. This warming-up routine happens every single morning.
Each day, one or two meerkats take turns as the 'sentry' — standing up tall on a rock or termite mound, watching for eagles, snakes and other dangers while the rest of the group hunts for food. If the sentry spots something, it gives a sharp bark, and the whole mob dives underground in seconds. Different calls mean different threats — one sound for airborne danger, another for ground predators.
Meerkats are immune to some venoms that would be dangerous to other animals. This means they can eat scorpions and some snakes without being harmed. Young meerkats are taught how to handle scorpions safely — adults bring live (but partly disabled) scorpions for the pups to practise with before they graduate to catching their own.
Meerkats are very sociable and groom each other constantly, using their nimble fingers to clean fur and remove ticks. Young meerkats have a babysitter while their parents forage — often an older sibling who stays behind at the burrow. It is a proper community effort, just like a big busy family.