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Who wins?
Black-footed Cat 3 (75%)
Meerkats (2) 1 (25%)
Total Votes: 4
Black-footed Cat v Meerkats (2)
Topic Started: Apr 4 2018, 06:38 PM (293 Views)
Taipan
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Black-footed Cat - Felis nigripes
The black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) is the smallest African cat, and is endemic in the south west arid zone of the southern African subregion. Due to their small size, black-footed cats hunt mainly small prey species like rodents and small birds, but may also take the White-quilled Bustard and the Cape Hare, the latter heavier than itself. Insects and spiders provide less than 1% of the prey mass consumed. They are unusually active hunters, killing up to fourteen small animals in a night. Their energy requirements are very high, with about 250 grams (9 oz) of prey per night consumed, which is about a sixth of its average body weight. The black-footed cat is one of the smallest cat species. Adult resident males weigh on average 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) and a maximum of 2.45 kg (5.4 lb). Adult resident females weigh on average 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb) and a maximum of 1.65 kg (3.6 lb). Males reach a head-to-body length of 36.7 to 43.3 cm (14.4 to 17.0 in) with a 16.4 to 19.8 cm (6.5 to 7.8 in) long tail. Females are smaller with a maximum head-to-body-length of 36.9 cm (14.5 in) and a 12.6 to 17.0 cm (5.0 to 6.7 in) long tail. The shoulder height is about 25 centimetres (9.8 in).

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Meerkats (2) - Suricata suricata
The meerkat or suricate, Suricata suricatta, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. The meerkat is a small diurnal herpestid (mongoose) weighing on average about 731 grams (1.612 lb) for males and 720 grams (1.59 lb) for females. Its long slender body and limbs give it a body length of 25 to 35 centimetres (9.8 to 13.8 in) and an added tail length of 17 to 25 centimetres (6.7 to 9.8 in). Meerkats are primarily insectivores, but also eat other animals (lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders, plants, eggs, small mammals, millipedes, centipedes and, more rarely, small birds) and fungi (the desert truffle Kalaharituber pfeilii). Meerkats are immune to certain types of venom, including the very strong venom of the scorpions of the Kalahari Desert, unlike humans. They have no excess body fat stores, so foraging for food is a daily need.

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Mauro20
Apr 4 2018, 12:50 AM
Black-footed cat vs 2 meerkats.
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Mauro20
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Could go either way, I think. The cat is bigger and more robust, but meerkats can be quite aggressive and their teamwork could be decisive here. These animals coexist in the wild, right? Does anyone knows about any interactions?
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Vivyx
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Felines, sharks, birds, arthropods
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I don't know about meerkat interactions with black-footed cats, but here's an interesting series of photos of an African wildcat attacking a meerkat. The meerkat did die in the end, but it also seemed to put up a good fight before perishing:

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2465860/Wild-cat-strike-Hunter-snatches-meerkat-emerges-den--doesnt-prove-simples-meal.html




With that being said, I think the cat would have a slight edge here. Interesting match-up.
Edited by Vivyx, Apr 18 2018, 10:33 PM.
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