Suricate
Meerkat
Limited Edition of 495 
Lithographic print
Print measures: 14.5" x 10.5”inches (36.8cm x 26.7cm)
Released 2005
 
"This second release of a meerkat...I want (my customers) to see creatures in perhaps ways they have not seen them before."
 
David Dancey-Wood, from his book Pencils patience and primates
 
The suricate, also known as meerkat, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family, native to the arid regions of southern Africa. These cute and charismatic animals are highly social and live in large groups, called mobs or clans, consisting of up to 50 individuals. Suricates have several adaptations that help them survive in their harsh desert habitat, such as keen eyesight and hearing, and the ability to withstand high temperatures.
Suricates are diurnal and spend most of their time foraging for food, which consists of insects, spiders, scorpions, and small reptiles. They are also opportunistic and will occasionally feed on fruits and seeds. These animals have a complex system of vocal and visual communication that allows them to coordinate their activities and alert each other to the presence of predators.
Suricates are also highly intelligent and have been observed using tools and solving problems. In one study, suricates were able to learn how to push a lever to access a food reward, even when the lever was hidden or moved to different locations.