What is "suricat"

suricat \su"ri*cat\, suricate \su"ri*cate\(s[umsc]"r[i^]*k[a^]t), n. [F. surikate, from the native name in South Africa.] (Zool.) A South African mongooselike viverrine ( Suricata suricatta or Suricata tetradactyla) having a lemurlike face and only four toes; called also mierkat, yellow mongoose and zenick. [Also spelled surikate.]

Note: The animal called zenick seems also to be related to or identical to the mierkat, but no reference can be found on the internet.

Syn: meerkat.

Zenick \Ze"nick\, n. (Zo["o]l.) A South African burrowing mammal ( Suricata tetradactyla), allied to the civets. It is grayish brown, with yellowish transverse stripes on the back. Called also suricat.

Note: This term is not found on the internet. It probably refers to the meerkat, also called suricate.

n. (alternative form of suricate English)