Meerkat sentry

Native to southern Africa - seen here at Marwell Zoo, a 140 acre site situated in Colden Common near Winchester, in the English county of Hampshire.

One of the most important roles a meerkat plays is that of the sentry, the lookout. One meerkat will stand on its hind legs, propped up by its tail and act as a lookout while the rest of the mob is outside looking for food and frolicking in the sun. The lookout scans the area for predators, including hawks, eagles, snakes and jackals. If a predator is spotted, the guard lets out a distinctive bark. At the sound of the warning bark, everyone sprints to the nearest tunnel entrance. The sentry is the first to emerge from the burrow to check if the coast is clear.

30 cm body length