- Meerkats live in highly social groups called mobs, which typically consist of ~20-30 meerkats.
- Meerkats follow a matriarchal social structure. The dominant leader in a meerkat mob is known as the alpha female and she is the only female allowed to breed, while other females assist in caring for her young.
- One of the meerkats in the group always acts as a sentinel, standing upright in a high place to watch for predators. If a threat is detected, the sentinel gives an alarm call, alerting the mob to find cover.
- Meerkats have dark patches around their eyes, which act like built-in sunglasses.
- Meerkats are immune to certain venoms, including those from scorpions, which are one of their favorite snacks.