How Meerkats Organize Their Society

Meerkats are often seen as cute and interesting animals, but there is more than what shows. They have one of the most sophisticated social systems in the animal kingdom. They tend to inhabit most of Southern Africa and, as social animals, they form groups (called "mobs"), which are able to successfully fend off danger using teamwork, strict hierarchy, and the discipline of each member.

A typical meerkat mob has 20-40 individuals, with one dominant female and her partner leading. What is interesting is that in most animals the males are dominant, but in meerkats the leading female has the most control. She is the only one in the group with the ability to breed, and the subordinate females are given the task of helping to rear her young, while also performing the role of protecting, and foraging for the group.

Their division of labor is also surprisingly effective. During a typical, peaceful day, foraging, when an adult meerkat sees danger (say jackals, eagles, or snakes), they will raise the alarm, and then the rest of the group will take cover in the burrow or will adopt a scattering tactic.

Meerkats also have a unique system of education. The mothers will keep pups away from prey, which gradually exposed to the prey more and more, and then finally, they are directly taught to engage with live prey. This system of education, as well as the social and the learning components that will be seen in this group also serve a protective role.

Meerkats also are able to communicate with each other. They have a multitude of vocal communications that serve the purpose of education as well as the social components of this group. They will describe the movements that need to take place, as well as other things in the environment that are changing. The females will respond to the risks that are created by specific predators as a group. They respond to specific calls, and then based on the urgency they will also respond to the calls that are attributed to the collaboration of the group. For example, an eagle will cause the group to take cover in the burrow, while a snake will cause the rest to adopt a scattering tactic.

The importance of collaboration cannot be overstated, however, retaining a hierarchy provides structure. Order can be maintained, but defiance against an alpha female can result in hostile oustings, while lower-ranking females may be completely prohibited from reproducing.

The highly developed social structure of the meerkats allows them to flourish in especially difficult environments. The meerkats' story illustrates how surprising ordering and intellect can be in the animal kingdom, while also emphasizing the importance of collaboration over competition.