Meerkat
A meerkat is a small, social mammal from southern Africa that lives in cooperative groups and forages for insects and other small animals.
Also known as: Suricata suricatta
How big is it?
50 cm · head-and-body length
Also 1.64 ft
Head-and-body length · representative
Typical recorded range: 42 cm to 60 cm.
A little perspective
Meerkat vs Platypus: length comparison
The head-and-body length of a meerkat is approximately equal to the total length of a platypus.
A meerkat is a small, social mammal from southern Africa that lives in cooperative groups and forages for insects and other small animals.
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia, notable for its duck-like bill and egg-laying reproduction.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Meerkat
Head-and-body length: 50 cm; representative; range 42 cm–60 cm.
A representative adult meerkat with 50 cm head-and-body length and 750 g mass. The long tail is excluded from the selected body span.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance — Meerkat
The marked head-and-body length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Platypus
Representative total length: 50 cm; representative; range 40 cm–63 cm.
A representative adult platypus 50 cm from bill to tail and 1.5 kg. Sex and population affect size, and the broad tail is included in total length.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance — Platypus
The marked representative total length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 50 cm
We compare the head-and-body length of a meerkat. This is a representative comparison value; individual specimens or conditions can vary. The recorded range is 42 cm to 60 cm.
A representative adult meerkat with 50 cm head-and-body length and 750 g mass. The long tail is excluded from the selected body span.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 cm | 42 cm to 60 cm | representative | |
| 750 g | 500 g to 1 kg | representative |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valueLiving thingsCat46 cmBody lengthA cat is a small domesticated mammal with a flexible body, retractable claws and highly developed senses.
Around the same scaleLiving thingsPlatypus50 cmRepresentative total lengthThe platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia, notable for its duck-like bill and egg-laying reproduction.
Nearest higher valueLiving thingsRed fox70 cmBody lengthThe red fox is a wild member of the dog family, recognised for its reddish fur and bushy tail, and is native to much of the Northern Hemisphere.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance — MeerkatRepresentative adult body size and mass; tail is excluded from the chosen body span.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
Living thingsRed fox70 cmThe red fox is a wild member of the dog family, recognised for its reddish fur and bushy tail, and is native to much of the Northern Hemisphere.Living thingsCat46 cmA cat is a small domesticated mammal with a flexible body, retractable claws and highly developed senses.Living thingsPlatypus50 cmThe platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia, notable for its duck-like bill and egg-laying reproduction.
PeopleHuman femur45 cmThe human femur is the thigh bone, connecting the hip to the knee and supporting body weight during movement.
SpaceSputnik 158 cmSputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite launched into Earth orbit by the Soviet Union in 1957.
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