Yes. Tried responding earlier but couldn't log on

Since no one has posted a question, I'll go ahead and do a St. Patty's day related one:

This meerkat has a name fit for St. Patrick's day, and is aka Sommerfield.

Yo squirrellygirly

There could be so many answers for me here:

Celidah
Bhodran
Irish
Molly Bloom

But I don't know a meerkat known as Sommerfield, so I'm stumped.

Pronker

Pronker,
Irish was the right answer, you got it! The "aka Sommerfield" was a researchers comment on the Balrog's package that is available for free on the FKMP site

Hi All. I was glad to hear that I got the ground squirrel question right. yippy!

Here is my question.

The scientific name suricate comes from what language and what does it mean?

Yo titus

[French, from obsolete Dutch surikat, macaque, probably of South African origin.]

Oh squirrellygirly I though you meant the meerkat had another name like in Meerkat Manor we have Tosca/Baddiel. Sigh, sometimes digging isn't enough on has to "think" about the answer.

Pronker

Although the Dutch did have something to do with naming our little meerkat, that's not it. Do you need a hint. I can tell you where to find more info.

Titus,
Well, you have me completely stumped! I found the same answer that Pronker wrote.

Yo titus

Sorry I must've misunderstood what you are looking for. Are looking for the orgin of the word meerkat instead of suricate?

"Meerkat is a South African Dutch word meaning 'lake cat' since meerkats are often found near stretches of water."

That is what National Geographic says about the word meerkat.

This is what the Smithsonian says:

Meerkat

Although the second syllable of the word “meerkat” suggests its namesake is feline, the meerkat is really a member of the mongoose family. The origins of “meerkat” are more confusing than an English speaker might assume at first glance. In Afrikaans, a language derived from African dialects and Dutch, “meerkat” refers to all mongoose species. It probably comes from the Dutch meercatte, meaning “sea cat” or “lake cat,” a term Dutch traders applied to monkeys that were shipped from overseas. Meerkats’ scientific name, Suricata suricatta, also comes from a Dutch word for monkey—surikat, meaning macaque. It’s unclear how these monkey monikers came to be used for mongooses that live in arid habitats.

So I guess you have to be more specific about what you are looking for

Pronker

According to Websters unabridged dictionary the word suricate has its origins in both French and Dutch language and meant macaque which as far as I know is a monkey. I could be wrong.

I just reread Pronkers post. If you are looking for the word meerkat another possible answer is that the early Dutch settlers described the kats as "more cat than dog" "meer kat as hund"in Afrikaans. Is that what you were looking for?

codyferret, pronker and squirrellygirly, you all are correct on the "origin" of suricate. According to Wikipedia the "scientific" name comes from a different language with another meaning. You guys can go from there. Sorry I wasn't more specific or word my question correctly. Good luck!

I'll check back in periodically today to see if you found the answer yet.

Good morning!

From Wikepedia.com

"The scientific name suricate comes from Swahili language and it means "rock-cat".

Hope that's what you were looking for!

YAAAYYYY! Congrats codyferret, you earned the gold star. I know origin and scientific was confusing. Wow, amazing that I checked right after you posted.

Wow, that was a tough one! Congrats Codyferret.
By the way Cody, check out today's questions at the Quirkie Meerkat Jeopardy Burrow
You're guaranteed to get at least one of those right

squirrellygirly, I've been hunting that Jeopardy Burrow for awhile and can't seem to locate it. Can you tell me where it is?

Titus,
It's under MSN Groups. If you google Quirkie Meerkat Jeopardy it comes up.

Thank you, Thank you. HAPPY EASTER.

Good Morning all-

Sorry I am late.

Our question of the day is:

Which group is the only group to have twice experienced the successful immigration of non-natal females?

Is it the Balrogs??????

Yo diggers

Whew now I know why I couldn't find the right answer for titus' question: 1: it came from Wiki, which is 2: incorrect.

The scientific name for meerkat is:
Suricata suricatta, which comes from a Dutch word for monkey—surikat, meaning macaque.

There is no word "suricate" in Swahili.

However titus, I always say the quesitoner's answer is the correct answer.

Congrats to codyferret as a #1 digger and I think squirrelly has found the right nut for today's question, though we should wait for codyferret to confirm.

Pronker

Pronker-All I could find was the same information you have-surikate=macaque. It wasn't until titus said wikipedia that I found that quote.
As for the answer to todays question-squirrellygirly is correct. I think I tend to make my questions too easy. Have to work on that.
Have a great night!

This meerkat gets her name from a type of lemur that has been shown on Lemur Kingdom. Hint: This meerkat is no longer living

Squirrelygirly-

I think you are looking for Sifaka???