Shaw's jird (''Meriones shawi'') is a species of
rodent 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 come ...
. It is found in
Algeria,
Egypt,
Libya,
Morocco, and
Tunisia. Its natural
habitats are
arable land, pastureland, and rural gardens.
They typically live 1–2 years.
Shaw's jird is able to survive long periods of dehydration in semi-desert regions where it lives, in part because of its well developed
kidneys. During the rainy season, Shaw's jirds breed more compared to summer when there is less rain.
In the
Algerian highlands, they are a main prey source for
Barn owl
The barn owl (''Tyto alba'') is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds, being found almost everywhere except for the polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalaya ...
s.
References
Meriones (rodent)
Mammals described in 1842
Taxa named by Georges Louis Duvernoy
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Meriones-stub