The Indian gerbil (''Tatera indica'') also known as antelope rat, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriat ...

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 n ...

in the family

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 ...

. It is found in southern Asia from Syria to Bangladesh. It is the only species in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

''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 this species lives apart. The relation between male and female gerbils is not known yet.

Diet

Omnivorous. Known to eat grains, seeds, plants, roots, insects, reptiles and even small birds and mammals it can catch.

References

Other sources

* Mammals described in 1807 Gerbils Mammals of Afghanistan Mammals of the Middle East Mammals of Sri Lanka Rodents of India Rodents of Pakistan Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Gerbillinae-stub