Suricates are silver-brown with distinct darker mottling on the upperparts, which sometimes forms into transverse bars towards the rump. Their hindquarters are more stocky than their upper bodies, and they have rounded, broad heads, sharp, pointed muzzles and thin, tapering tails with dark tips. They have dark circles around their eyes, which tend to make their eyes look larger. They are diurnal, and sun themselves while constantly on the alert for predators. If the posted sentry lets out an alarm call (consisting of one sharp bark), then the pack will scuttle away to the safety of their burrows. The type of alarm call given varies depending on whether the attack is coming from the ground or the sky: for ground predators it is a staccato call; for an airborne attack the call is long and drawn out. Suricates constantly survey the sky and they can distinguish harmless birds from lethal ones.

Their main predators are large raptors such as martial eagles, although jackals are also a serious threat. Suricates will often share their burrows with yellow mongooses and ground squirrels although the suricates may drive the others away. Their main food is insects and reptiles such as geckos, but they also dig for scorpions and will take small snakes. Two to three young are born at a time.