What animal is Timon?

Timon is a meerkat. In The Lion King, he is the quick-talking companion of Pumbaa, a common warthog, and later becomes one of Simba’s closest friends.

The character’s body language is highly stylized: Timon walks upright, gestures like a person, and often behaves like the confident leader of the pair. Real meerkats normally move on all fours, although they can stand upright briefly to survey their surroundings. That difference can make Timon seem like a generic small mammal rather than a specifically identified species.

Timon and Pumbaa meet Simba after the young lion leaves the Pride Lands. They introduce him to their carefree philosophy, “Hakuna Matata,” and help him survive in the jungle. Their friendship became central to later Lion King films, television series, and merchandise.

A common mix-up is reversing the animals: Timon is the meerkat, while Pumbaa is the warthog. The pair first appeared together in Disney’s 1994 animated feature The Lion King.