Meerkat is an Afrikaans word used for any mongoose, and the meerkat is in fact a member of the mongoose family. ... The meerkat's Latin name, Suricata suricatta, is also derived from an obsolete Dutch word, surikat, meaning macaque, a kind of monkey.

What kind of animal is a meerkat?

Meerkat (Suricata suricatta): a small mongoose found in southern Africa. Despite what its name may suggest, a meerkat is not a member of the cat family. Meerkats are weasel-like animals that are members of the mongoose family.

WHAT IS A meerkat classified as?

The meerkat is a small mongoose of slim build characterised by a broad head, large eyes, a pointed snout, long legs, a thin tapering tail and a brindled coat pattern. It is smaller than most other mongooses except the dwarf mongooses (genus Helogale) and possibly Galerella species.