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Gerbils
Gerbillinae is one of the subfamilies of the rodent family Muridae and includes the gerbils, jirds, and sand rats. Once known as desert rats, the subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats. Most are primarily active during the day, making them diurnal (but some species, including the common household pet, exhibit crepuscular behavior), and almost all are omnivorous. The gerbil got its name as a diminutive form of "jerboa," an unrelated group of rodents occupying a similar ecological niche. Gerbils are typically between long, including the tail, which makes up about half of their total length. One species, the great gerbil (''Rhombomys opimus''), originally native to Turkmenistan, can grow to more than . The average adult gerbil weighs about . One species, the Mongolian gerbil (''Meriones unguiculatus''), also known as the ''clawed jird'', is a gentle and hardy animal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fat-tailed Gerbil
The fat-tailed gerbil (''Pachyuromys duprasi''), also called the duprasi gerbil or doop, is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. It is the only member of the genus ''Pachyuromys''. These rodents are the most docile species of the gerbil subfamily. Fat-tailed gerbils have been available on the pet market for decades, but in the 21st century breeders can be hard to find. They are sometimes considered as pocket pets. Other common English names are: fat-tailed jird, fat-tailed rat, and beer mat gerbil. Description The fat-tailed gerbil is a medium-sized gerbil. Its body length is about , with a tail length of about . The hair at the back and the head is yellow-coloured, with a dark grey base and a small black tip. The belly is white. Fat-tailed gerbils weigh between in the wild, but in captivity can weigh between . Their body is round and somewhat flattened. They have no clear neck and a very sharp face, with large oval-shaped black eyes. The ears are positioned qu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Great Gerbil
The great gerbil (''Rhombomys opimus'') is a large rodent found throughout much of Central Asia. Description The largest of the gerbils, great gerbils have a head and body length of . Their skulls are distinctive by having two grooves in each incisor. They have large front claws used for burrowing. Distribution and habitat Great gerbils are found in arid habitats, predominantly in sandy or clay deserts. They are found in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Predators The great gerbil is preyed on by foxes, owls, kites, wildcats, vultures, and cobras. Ecology and behavior Great gerbils live in family groups and occupy one burrow per family. Their burrows can be fairly extensive with separate chambers for nests and food storage. Great gerbils spend considerably more time in the burrows during winter, but do not hibernate. They are predominantly diurnal. Food consists mostly of vegetable matter. The animals are often colonial. Longevit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are native to all major land masses except for New Zealand, Antarctica, and several oceanic islands, though they have subsequently been introduced to most of these land masses by human activity. Rodents are extremely diverse in their ecology and lifestyles and can be found in almost every terrestrial habitat, including human-made environments. Species can be arboreal, fossorial (burrowing), saltatorial/richochetal (leaping on their hind legs), or semiaquatic. However, all rodents share several morphological features, including having only a single upper and lower pair of ever-growing incisors. Well-known rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Rabbits, hares, and pikas, wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Muridae
The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. The name Muridae comes from the Latin ' (genitive '), meaning "mouse", since all true mice belong to the family, with the more typical mice belonging to the genus ''Mus''. Distribution and habitat Murids are found nearly everywhere in the world, though many subfamilies have narrower ranges. Murids are not found in Antarctica or many oceanic islands. Although none of them are native to the Americas, a few species, notably the house mouse and black rat, have been introduced worldwide. Murids occupy a broad range of ecosystems from tropical forests to tundras. Fossorial, arboreal, and semiaquatic murid species occur, though most are terrestrial animals. The extensive list of niches filled by murids helps to explain their relative abundance. Diet and dentiti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Meriones (genus)
''Meriones'' is a rodent genus that includes the gerbil most commonly kept as a pet, '' Meriones unguiculatus''. The genus contains most animals referred to as jirds, but members of the genera ''Sekeetamys'', '' Brachiones'', and sometimes '' Pachyuromys'' are also known as jirds. The distribution of ''Meriones'' ranges from northern Africa to Mongolia. ''Meriones'' jirds tend to inhabit arid regions including clay desert, sandy desert, and steppe, but are also in slightly wetter regions, and are an agricultural pest. The genus was named by Illiger in 1811, deriving from the Greek word ''μηρος'' (femur). However the name is shared with Greek warrior Meriones in Homer's ''Iliad'' which has brought confusion to the meaning of the scientific names, specially for the popular pet Mongolian gerbil. Description Adult ''Meriones'' species range in size from 9 to 18 cm (head and body), with tails equal to or slightly longer than the rest of the animals. Weights vary widely ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Meriones (rodent)
''Meriones'' is a rodent genus that includes the gerbil most commonly kept as a pet, ''Meriones unguiculatus''. The genus contains most animals referred to as jirds, but members of the genera '' Sekeetamys'', ''Brachiones'', and sometimes '' Pachyuromys'' are also known as jirds. The distribution of ''Meriones'' ranges from northern Africa to Mongolia. ''Meriones'' jirds tend to inhabit arid regions including clay desert, sandy desert, and steppe, but are also in slightly wetter regions, and are an agricultural pest. The genus was named by Illiger in 1811, deriving from the Greek word ''μηρος'' (femur). However the name is shared with Greek warrior Meriones in Homer's ''Iliad'' which has brought confusion to the meaning of the scientific names, specially for the popular pet Mongolian gerbil. Description Adult ''Meriones'' species range in size from 9 to 18 cm (head and body), with tails equal to or slightly longer than the rest of the animals. Weights vary widely by s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indian Gerbil
The Indian gerbil (''Tatera indica'') also known as antelope rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in southern Asia from Syria to Bangladesh. It is the only species in the genus ''Tatera''. Members of the genus ''Gerbilliscus ''Gerbilliscus'' is a genus of rodent in the subfamily Gerbillinae (gerbils) of the family Muridae. It contains the following species, all native to Africa: * Cape gerbil (''Gerbilliscus afra'') * Boehm's gerbil (''Gerbilliscus boehmi'') * Highv ...'' have historically been placed in ''Tatera''. Description Head and body length is 17–20 cm. Tail is 20–21 cm. Dorsal surface including entire head is light brown or light brown with rusty wash. Underparts are white. Tail fully furred, dark blackish brown with grayish sides and prominent black tuft on tip. Fur on body soft, sparse underneath; tail fur is longer. Eyes are large and prominent. Bounding gait is distinguished when running. Reproduction Both the sexes of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gerbilliscus
''Gerbilliscus'' is a genus of rodent in the subfamily Gerbillinae (gerbils) of the family Muridae. It contains the following species, all native to Africa: * Cape gerbil (''Gerbilliscus afra'') * Boehm's gerbil (''Gerbilliscus boehmi'') * Highveld gerbil (''Gerbilliscus brantsii'') * Guinean gerbil (''Gerbilliscus guineae'') * Gorongoza gerbil (''Gerbilliscus inclusus'') * Kemp's gerbil (''Gerbilliscus kempi'') * Bushveld gerbil (''Gerbilliscus leucogaster'') * Black-tailed gerbil (''Gerbilliscus nigricaudus'') * Phillips's gerbil (''Gerbilliscus phillipsi'') * Fringe-tailed gerbil (''Gerbilliscus robustus'') * Savanna gerbil (''Gerbilliscus validus'') Species currently classified in this genus were formerly treated in the genus ''Tatera The Indian gerbil (''Tatera indica'') also known as antelope rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in southern Asia from Syria to Bangladesh. It is the only species in the genus Genus ( plural genera ) is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gerbillus
''Gerbillus'' is a genus that contains most common and the most diverse gerbils. In 2010, after morphological and molecular studies '' Dipodillus'' was ranged as a subgenus of ''Gerbillus'', however some taxonomic authorities continue to separate them. Species Genus ''Gerbillus'' *Subgenus '' Hendecapleura'' **Pleasant gerbil, ''Gerbillus amoenus'' ** Brockman's gerbil, ''Gerbillus brockmani'' ** Black-tufted gerbil, ''Gerbillus famulus'' ** Algerian gerbil, ''Gerbillus garamantis'' ** Grobben's gerbil, ''Gerbillus grobbeni'' **Pygmy gerbil, ''Gerbillus henleyi'' ** Mauritanian gerbil, ''Gerbillus mauritaniae'' (sometimes considered a separate genus ''Monodia'') ** Harrison's gerbil, ''Gerbillus mesopotamiae'' **Darfur gerbil, ''Gerbillus muriculus'' **Balochistan gerbil, ''Gerbillus nanus'' ** Large Aden gerbil, ''Gerbillus poecilops'' **Principal gerbil, ''Gerbillus principulus'' **Least gerbil, ''Gerbillus pusillus'' **Sand gerbil, ''Gerbillus syrticus'' **Waters's gerbil, ''Ge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arid Climate
The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk''), is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert climates are dry and hold little moisture, quickly evaporating the already little rainfall they receive. Covering 14.2% of earth's land area, hot deserts are the second most common type of climate on earth after the polar climate. There are two variations of a desert climate according to the Köppen climate classification: a hot desert climate (''BWh''), and a cold desert climate (''BWk''). To delineate "hot desert climates" from "cold desert climates", there are three widely used isotherms: most commonly a mean annual temperature of , or sometimes the coldest month's mean temperature of , so that a location with a ''BW'' type climate with the appropriate temperature above whichever isotherm is being used is classified as "hot arid sub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diurnality
Diurnality is a form of plant and animal behavior characterized by activity during daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The common adjective used for daytime activity is "diurnal". The timing of activity by an animal depends on a variety of environmental factors such as the temperature, the ability to gather food by sight, the risk of predation, and the time of year. Diurnality is a cycle of activity within a 24-hour period; cyclic activities called circadian rhythms are endogenous cycles not dependent on external cues or environmental factors except for a zeitgeber. Animals active during twilight are crepuscular, those active during the night are nocturnal and animals active at sporadic times during both night and day are cathemeral. Plants that open their flowers during the daytime are described as diurnal, while those that bloom during nighttime are nocturnal. The timing of flower opening is often related to the time at which preferred pollin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crepuscular
In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period, being matutinal, vespertine, or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behavior, where an animal is active during the hours of daylight and of darkness, respectively. Some crepuscular animals may also be active by moonlight or during an overcast day. Matutinal animals are active only before sunrise, and vespertine only after sunset. A number of factors impact the time of day an animal is active. Predators hunt when their prey is available, and prey try to avoid the times when their principal predators are at large. The temperature at midday may be too high or at night too low. Some creatures may adjust their activities depending on local competition. Etymology and usage The word ''crepuscular'' derives from the Latin '' crepusculum'' ("twilight"). Its sense accordingly differs from diurnal and nocturnal behavior, which respectively peak during hours of daylight ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
