27. Meerkats — What's a meerkat, you ask? Think Timon from Disney's The Lion King. Meerkats are small mammals that live in one of the hottest places on earth - Africa's Kalahari Desert. It may be hot and dry there, but these cuties still make time to socialize and play with others in their colony, which usually has up to 30 members! Think 30 instant friends! While most species' young learn by watching what the adults do, meerkats are the first non-human mammal species seen actively teaching their young how to live. Live, love, laugh seems to be their motto. A motto we can certainly learn from them!