Meet the Meerkats: A Guide to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Meerkat Family

First to arrive at our Zoo was Frankie, who is now the oldest member of our mob at age nine. (Meerkats can live into their early teens, so we think of him as middle-aged.) Frankie is our largest meerkat and has lots of grey fur. 

He’s also the easiest to spot because he’s missing his back left leg. Before coming to us, Frankie injured the leg and was pushed out of his former family group as a result. Meerkats can be surprisingly vicious with each other, and family squabbles sometimes turn serious.

Most people don’t even notice he’s missing his leg, though. Frankie spends much of his time sitting upright as a sentry, standing guard to protect the rest of the mob while they eat, dig, or nap.

Frankie takes his guard shifts seriously, but he’s also a playful dad. He loves to wrestle with his kids and is often seen lounging on the log at the very center of the exhibit.

While Frankie is the biggest, the true boss is Sadie, our 7-year-old alpha female. Sadie has also raised two litters here, making her the mother of the entire mob.

Meerkat societies are matriarchal – mom calls the shots. Sadie makes sure she gets her share of food, fighting off anyone who tries to take it from her. She’s also easy to identify by her shorter tail, a reminder of a past tussle with another meerkat.

Sadie is a master of relaxation. If you spot a meerkat stretched out under a sun lamp, blissfully ignoring everyone else, that’s probably her. (Fun fact: wild meerkats live in the Kalahari Desert of Southern Africa, and sunbathing helps them warm up after a chilly night underground.) 

Sadie’s first litter turned two years old in May of this year. Archie, one of the two brothers, has the darkest coloration and sleek fur. Archie has a quiet nature and tends to wait his turn during feeding times.

Like Frankie, he takes sentry duty seriously, climbing up high to get the best view. If you see a meerkat scanning the horizon while perched on a branch and standing on tiptoe, that’s probably Archie.

Felix, on the other hand, was nicknamed “Frankie Jr.” as a pup for his resemblance to dad. His black eye markings flare up dramatically at the edges, giving him a natural eyeliner look. (Fun fact: Those markings aren’t just stylish. They act like built-in sunglasses, reducing glare from the desert sun.) 

Felix is playful, feisty, and always ready to jump into the middle of a meerkat dogpile. We’ll often find him waiting in the doorway when we enter the habitat. 

Sadie’s second litter, born just a few months later, will also turn two this September.

Oscar looks a lot like Felix, but he’s slightly larger and sports a darker line of fur down his forehead. He’s bold and maybe a little pushy, often trying to swipe food from the others during feeding time. Even though we’re sure to give every meerkat the right portion of beef for their size, Oscar is convinced every meatball is his and that he’ll get it if he’s just fast enough.

Louie is the smallest of the group but has big, round, puppy-dog eyes that make him stand out. His eye markings are fainter and smaller than the rest of the family and he is fuzzier around his face.

During training, we encourage the meerkats to sit politely and wait their turn, but Louie pops up on his hind legs and does what we call the “tippy-tap” dance, picking up his feet like he just can’t contain his excitement.

Scout is our only other female and the quietest member of the mob. She tends to keep to the edges during feeding time, patiently waiting her turn. Her wide-set eyes and squarer head give her a distinct look. 

Don’t let her calm nature fool you – Scout is sneaky. She’s been known to sneak up behind keepers and try to steal things from our pockets!

Our meerkats are always busy and on the run. They dig tunnels, chase each other in mock battles, and constantly check and re-check the entrances to their underground tunnel system. They’re also endlessly curious and will play with just about everything, which makes them especially fun to enrich with new toys and treats. 

Next time you visit the Small Mammal House, stop by the meerkat exhibit and see if you can tell who’s who!

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