List of gerbillines
Species in mammal subfamily Gerbillinae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gerbillinae is a subfamily of mammals in the rodent family Muridae, which in turn is part of the Myomorpha suborder in the order Rodentia. Members of this subfamily are called gerbillines and include gerbils, jirds, and sand rats. They are found in Africa and Asia, primarily in shrublands, grasslands, savannas, and deserts, though some species can be found in forests and coastal areas. They range in size from the pouched gerbil, at 5 cm (2 in) plus a 3 cm (1 in) tail, to the large Aden gerbil, at 22 cm (9 in) plus a 11 cm (4 in) tail. Gerbillines generally eat seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects, as well as grain and other vegetation. Few gerbillines have population estimates, but the western gerbil is categorized as endangered, and Dahl's jird is categorized as critically endangered, with a population of below 2,000.
The 102 extant species of Gerbillinae are divided into 14 genera, with 49—nearly half—in the Gerbillus genus. The Mongolian gerbil, as well as some other species such as the fat-tailed gerbil, are kept as pets.[1] Several extinct prehistoric gerbilline species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization are not fixed.[2]
Conventions
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| EX | Extinct (0 species) |
| EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
| CR | Critically endangered (1 species) |
| EN | Endangered (1 species) |
| VU | Vulnerable (2 species) |
| NT | Near threatened (0 species) |
| LC | Least concern (74 species) |
| Other categories | |
| DD | Data deficient (19 species) |
| NE | Not evaluated (5 species) |
The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the gerbilline's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.
Classification
Gerbillinae is a subfamily of the rodent family Muridae consisting of 102 extant species in 14 genera. These genera range in size from 1 to 49 species, with the latter, Gerbillus, making up almost half of the subfamily. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
Subfamily Gerbillinae
- Genus Ammodillus (ammodile): one species
- Genus Brachiones (Przewalski's gerbil): one species
- Genus Desmodilliscus (pouched gerbil): one species
- Genus Desmodillus (Cape short-eared gerbil): one species
- Genus Gerbilliscus (large naked-soled gerbils): sixteen species
- Genus Gerbillus (northern pygmy gerbils): 49 species
- Genus Meriones (jirds): seventeen species
- Genus Microdillus (Somali pygmy gerbil): one species
- Genus Pachyuromys (fat-tailed gerbil): one species
- Genus Psammomys (sand rats): two species
- Genus Rhombomys (great gerbil): one species
- Genus Sekeetamys (bushy-tailed jird): one species
- Genus Tatera (Indian gerbil): one species
- Genus Taterillus (taterils): nine species
|
Gerbillines
The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.[4]
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammodile | A. imbellis (De Winton, 1898) |
Ethiopia and Somalia | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail[5] Habitat: Grassland[6] Diet: Plant material and invertebrates[7] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Przewalski's gerbil
|
B. przewalskii (Büchner, 1889) |
Northern China | Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Desert[9] Diet: Plant material and invertebrates[7] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pouched gerbil | D. braueri Wettstein, 1916 |
Western and northern Africa | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail[8] Habitat: Savanna[10] Diet: Grain[11] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape short-eared gerbil
|
D. auricularis (Smith, 1834) |
Southern Africa | Size: 8–13 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail[5] Habitat: Desert[12] Diet: Seeds, grain, and insects[13] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-tailed gerbil
|
G. nigricaudus (Peters, 1878) |
Eastern Africa | Size: 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 17–21 cm (7–8 in) tail[14] Habitat: Shrubland, savanna, and forest[15] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Boehm's gerbil | G. boehmi (Noack, 1887) |
Central Africa | Size: 13–18 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 19–23 cm (7–9 in) tail[5] Habitat: Shrubland and savanna[17] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Bushveld gerbil
|
G. leucogaster (Peters, 1852) |
Southern Africa | Size: 8–16 cm (3–6 in) long, plus 12–18 cm (5–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Grassland, shrubland, savanna, and desert[18] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Bushy-tailed hairy-footed gerbil | G. vallinus Thomas, 1918 |
Namibia and South Africa | Size: 9–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 11–16 cm (4–6 in) tail[14] Habitat: Savanna, grassland, and desert[19] Diet: Seeds[20] |
|
| Cape gerbil
|
G. afra (Gray, 1830) |
South Africa | Size: 12–16 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 13–18 cm (5–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Desert and shrubland[21] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Dune hairy-footed gerbil | G. tytonis Bauer & Niethammer, 1960 |
Namibia | Size: 9–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 11–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[5] Habitat: Desert[22] Diet: Seeds[20] |
|
| Fringe-tailed gerbil | G. robustus (Cretzschmar, 1826) |
Eastern Africa | Size: 12–19 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 12–21 cm (5–8 in) tail[14] Habitat: Savanna and grassland[23] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Gorongoza gerbil | G. inclusus (Thomas & Wroughton, 1908) |
Southeastern Africa | Size: 15–17 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 13–20 cm (5–8 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna[24] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Guinean gerbil | G. guineae (Thomas, 1910) |
Western Africa | Size: 10–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna, rocky areas, forest, and shrubland[25] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Hairy-footed gerbil
|
G. paeba Smith, 1836 |
Southern Africa | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–13 cm (4–5 in) tail[14] Habitat: Savanna, desert, and shrubland[26] Diet: Seeds[20] |
|
| Highveld gerbil
|
G. brantsii (Smith, 1836) |
Southern Africa |
Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–19 cm (4–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, desert, and grassland[27] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Kemp's gerbil
|
G. kempi (Wroughton, 1906) |
Western and central Africa | Size: 14–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 14–18 cm (6–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna, forest, and shrubland[28] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Namib brush-tailed gerbil | G. setzeri Schlitter, 1973 |
Namibia and Angola | Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[14] Habitat: Desert[29] Diet: Seeds[20] |
|
| Phillips's gerbil | G. phillipsi (De Winton, 1898) |
Eastern Africa | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 16–19 cm (6–7 in) tail[14] Habitat: Shrubland[30] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Sahelo-Sudanian gerbil | G. gambiana Thomas, 1910 |
Western Africa | Size: 12–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 13–18 cm (5–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna and forest[31] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
|
| Savanna gerbil | G. validus (Bocage, 1890) |
Central Africa | Size: 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 11–19 cm (4–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna[32] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, and insects[16] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agag gerbil | G. agag Thomas, 1903 |
Central Africa | Size: 9–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Unknown[34] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Algerian gerbil | G. garamantis (Lataste, 1881) |
Northern Africa[36] | Size: 7–8 cm (3–3 in) long, plus about 11 cm (4 in) tail[36] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and savanna[37] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
NE
|
| Anderson's gerbil | G. andersoni De Winton, 1902 |
Northeastern Africa and western Middle East | Size: 7–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 9–14 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert and coastal marine[38] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Balochistan gerbil
|
G. nanus Blanford, 1875 |
Northern Africa and western Asia | Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 8–15 cm (3–6 in) tail[5] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and savanna[37] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Berbera gerbil | G. acticola Thomas, 1918 |
Somalia | Size: 9–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Unknown[39] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Black-tufted gerbil | G. famulus Yerbury & Thomas, 1895 |
Yemen | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and savanna[40] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Botta's gerbil | G. bottai (Lataste, 1882) |
Sudan | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–11 cm (4–4 in) tail[36] Habitat: Unknown[41] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Brockman's gerbil | G. brockmani (Thomas, 1910) |
Somalia | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–12 cm (4–5 in) tail[36] Habitat: Unknown[42] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Burton's gerbil
|
G. burtoni (F. Cuvier, 1838) |
Sudan | Size: Unknown[33] Habitat: Unknown[43] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Cheesman's gerbil
|
G. cheesmani Thomas, 1919 |
Middle East | Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Shrubland and desert[44] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Cushioned gerbil | G. pulvinatus Rhoads, 1896 |
Eastern Africa | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 11–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Rocky areas, savanna, desert, grassland, and shrubland[45] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Darfur gerbil | G. muriculus Thomas & Hinton, 1923 |
Sudan | Size: About 7 cm (3 in) long, plus about 8 cm (3 in) tail[36] Habitat: Unknown[46] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Dunn's gerbil | G. dunni Thomas, 1904 |
Eastern Africa | Size: 9–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 13–15 cm (5–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert, rocky areas, grassland, and savanna[47] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Flower's gerbil | G. floweri (Thomas, 1919) |
Egypt | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 13–16 cm (5–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and rocky areas[48] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Greater Egyptian gerbil
|
G. pyramidum Geoffroy, 1803 |
Northern Africa | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 12–18 cm (5–7 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert[49] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Greater short-tailed gerbil | G. maghrebi (Schlitter & Setzer, 1972) |
Morocco | Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 10–12 cm (4–5 in) tail[36] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[50] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Grobben's gerbil | G. grobbeni Klaptocz, 1909 |
Northern Libya | Size: About 8 cm (3 in) long, plus about 12 cm (5 in) tail[36] Habitat: Coastal marine[51] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Harrison's gerbil | G. mesopotamiae Harrison, 1956 |
Middle East | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 8–13 cm (3–5 in) tail[36] Habitat: Desert[52] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Harwood's gerbil | G. harwoodi (Thomas, 1901) |
Kenya and Tanzania | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail[36] Habitat: Savanna, grassland, and forest[53] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Hoogstraal's gerbil
|
G. hoogstraali (Lay, 1975) |
Morocco | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–13 cm (4–5 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert and coastal marine[54] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Indian hairy-footed gerbil | G. gleadowi (Murray, 1886) |
Pakistan and India | Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 11–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert[55] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| James's gerbil | G. jamesi (Harrison, 1867) |
Tunisia | Size: About 8 cm (3 in) long, plus about 11 cm (4 in) tail[36] Habitat: Unknown[56] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Khartoum gerbil | G. stigmonyx (Heuglin, 1877) |
Sudan | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–11 cm (4–4 in) tail[36] Habitat: Shrubland, rocky areas, and grassland[57] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Large Aden gerbil | G. poecilops Yerbury & Thomas, 1895 |
Western Saudi Arabia and western Yemen | Size: 15–22 cm (6–9 in) long, plus 7–11 cm (3–4 in) tail[5] Habitat: Shrubland and desert[58] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Lataste's gerbil | G. latastei Thomas, 1903 |
Tunisia | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Shrubland and desert[59] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Least gerbil | G. pusillus Peters, 1878 |
Eastern Africa | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail[5] Habitat: Grassland, rocky areas, and shrubland[60] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Lesser Egyptian gerbil
|
G. gerbillus (Olivier, 1801) |
Northern Africa |
Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–14 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Coastal marine and desert[61] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Lesser short-tailed gerbil
|
G. simoni Lataste, 1881 |
Northern Africa | Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 5–10 cm (2–4 in) tail[36] Habitat: Shrubland[62] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Lowe's gerbil | G. lowei (Thomas & Hinton, 1923) |
Western Sudan | Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 14–16 cm (6–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Rocky areas[63] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Mackilligin's gerbil | G. mackilligini (Thomas, 1904) |
Southern Egypt and Northern Sudan | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–14 cm (4–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Desert and shrubland[64] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Mauritanian gerbil | G. mauritaniae Heim de Balsac, 1943 |
Northern Mauritania[36] | Size: About 6 cm (2 in) long, plus about 8 cm (3 in) tail[36] Habitat: Savanna and grassland[65] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
NE
|
| Nigerian gerbil | G. nigeriae Thomas & Hinton, 1920 |
Western Mauritania | Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–16 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Savanna, grassland, desert, and shrubland[66] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| North African gerbil | G. campestris Loche, 1867 |
Northern Africa |
Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–16 cm (4–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Rocky areas and desert[67] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Occidental gerbil | G. occiduus Lay, 1975 |
Morocco | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–13 cm (4–5 in) tail[33] Habitat: Coastal marine and desert[68] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Pale gerbil
|
G. perpallidus Setzer, 1958 |
Northern Egypt | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 13–16 cm (5–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Coastal marine and desert[69] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Pleasant gerbil
|
G. amoenus (De Winton, 1902) |
Scattered northern Africa |
Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Savanna, desert, and coastal marine[70] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Principal gerbil | G. principulus Thomas & Hinton, 1923 |
Western Sudan | Size: About 7 cm (3 in) long, plus about 12 cm (5 in) tail[36] Habitat: Grassland and shrubland[71] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Pygmy gerbil
|
G. henleyi De Winton, 1903 |
Northern Africa and Middle East | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 7–11 cm (3–4 in) tail[5] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and rocky areas[72] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Rosalinda gerbil | G. rosalinda St. Leger, 1929 |
Sudan | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–13 cm (4–5 in) tail[33] Habitat: Grassland[73] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Rupicolous gerbil | G. rupicola (Granjon, Aniskin, Volobouev, & Sicard, 2002) |
Mali | Size: 9–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 13–15 cm (5–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas[74] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Sand gerbil | G. syrticus (Misonne, 1974) |
Northeastern Libya[5] | Size: About 5 cm (2 in) long, plus about 5 cm (2 in) tail[5] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and rocky areas[72] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
NE
|
| Somalian gerbil | G. somalicus (Thomas, 1910) |
Eastern Africa | Size: 8–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 11–13 cm (4–5 in) tail[36] Habitat: Grassland, desert, and shrubland[75] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Sudan gerbil | G. nancillus Thomas & Hinton, 1923 |
Northern Africa | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail[36] Habitat: Savanna and grassland[65] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Swarthy gerbil | G. aquilus Schlitter & Setzer, 1972 |
West-central Asia | Size: 9–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 12–16 cm (5–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Grassland and forest[76] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Tarabul's gerbil
|
G. tarabuli (Thomas, 1902) |
Northwestern Africa | Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 10–16 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert, coastal marine, and savanna[77] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Vivacious gerbil | G. vivax (Thomas, 1902) |
Northern Africa and western Asia[36] | Size: About 8 cm (3 in) long, plus about 11 cm (4 in) tail[36] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, savanna, and coastal marine[37][70] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
NE
|
| Wagner's gerbil
|
G. dasyurus (Wagner, 1842) |
Egypt and Middle East | Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 8–14 cm (3–6 in) tail[36] Habitat: Rocky areas, desert, and shrubland[78] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Waters's gerbil
|
G. watersi De Winton, 1901 |
Sudan and Egypt | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–13 cm (4–5 in) tail[36] Habitat: Shrubland, desert, and grassland[79] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
|
| Western gerbil | G. hesperinus Cabrera, 1936 |
Morocco | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail[33] Habitat: Coastal marine[80] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[35] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabian jird
|
M. arimalius Cheesman & Hinton, 1924 |
Arabian Peninsula | Size: About 13 cm (5 in) long, plus about 16 cm (6 in) tail[8] Habitat: Desert[81] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Buxton's jird
|
M. sacramenti Thomas, 1922 |
Egypt and Middle East | Size: 13–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 12–18 cm (5–7 in) tail[8] Habitat: Desert, grassland, and shrubland[83] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Cheng's jird | M. chengi Wang, 1964 |
Northwestern China | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail[33] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[84] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Dahl's jird | M. dahli Shidlovski, 1962 |
Western Asia | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 7–14 cm (3–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert[85] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Indian desert jird
|
M. hurrianae Jerdon, 1867 |
Southern Asia | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 10–16 cm (4–6 in) tail[8] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, desert, and grassland[86] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| King jird
|
M. rex Yerbury & Thomas, 1895 |
Saudi Arabia and Yemen | Size: 13–18 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tail[8] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and savanna[87] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Libyan jird
|
M. libycus Lichtenstein, 1823 |
Northern Africa and western and central Asia | Size: 12–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 11–19 cm (4–7 in) tail[8] Habitat: Inland wetlands, shrubland, and desert[88] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Midday jird
|
M. meridianus (Pallas, 1773) |
Southwestern Russia | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 7–14 cm (3–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert[89] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Mongolian gerbil
|
M. unguiculatus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) |
East-central Asia | Size: 9–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 8–11 cm (3–4 in) tail[8] Habitat: Grassland, shrubland, and desert[90] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Moroccan jird
|
M. grandis Cabrera, 1907 |
Northwestern Africa | Size: 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 16–18 cm (6–7 in) tail[8] Habitat: Shrubland[91] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Persian jird
|
M. persicus (Blanford, 1875) |
West-central Asia | Size: 12–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 12–19 cm (5–7 in) tail[33] Habitat: Shrubland, rocky areas, and grassland[92] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Shaw's jird
|
M. shawi (Duvernoy, 1842) |
Northern Africa | Size: 13–18 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 11–18 cm (4–7 in) tail[8] Habitat: Shrubland[93] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Sundevall's jird
|
M. crassus Sundevall, 1842 |
Northern Africa and western Asia | Size: 10–16 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 9–16 cm (4–6 in) tail[8] Habitat: Desert[94] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Tamarisk jird
|
M. tamariscinus (Pallas, 1773) |
Southwestern Russia | Size: 13–19 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 11–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[33] Habitat: Desert and grassland[95] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Tristram's jird
|
M. tristrami Thomas, 1892 |
Western Asia | Size: 10–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–17 cm (4–7 in) tail[8] Habitat: Shrubland[96] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Vinogradov's jird | M. vinogradovi Geptner, 1931 |
Western Asia | Size: 14–17 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 13–17 cm (5–7 in) tail[8] Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas[97] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
|
| Zarudny's jird | M. zarudnyi Geptner, 1937 |
Central Asia | Size: About 16 cm (6 in) long, plus about 16 cm (6 in) tail[8] Habitat: Desert[98] Diet: Vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, fruit, and insects[82] |
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| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somali pygmy gerbil | M. peeli (De Winton, 1898) |
Somalia | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail[33] Habitat: Grassland and shrubland[99] Diet: Seeds, roots, nuts, grass, and insects[100] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fat-tailed gerbil
|
P. duprasi Lataste, 1880 |
Northern Africa | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Shrubland and desert[101] Diet: Insects[11] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fat sand rat
|
P. obesus Cretzschmar, 1828 |
Northern Africa and Middle East | Size: 11–19 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 8–14 cm (3–6 in) tail[8] Habitat: Shrubland, inland wetlands, desert, and other[102] Diet: Succulents and other plants[103] |
|
| Thin sand rat | P. vexillaris Thomas, 1925 |
Northern Africa | Size: 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail[8] Habitat: Inland wetlands, shrubland, and other[104] Diet: Succulents and other plants[103] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great gerbil
|
R. opimus (Lichtenstein, 1823) |
Central Asia | Size: 15–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 13–16 cm (5–6 in) tail[8] Habitat: Desert, grassland, and shrubland[105] Diet: Variety of desert plants[106] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushy-tailed jird
|
S. calurus (Thomas, 1892) |
Egypt and Middle East | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–17 cm (4–7 in) tail[33] Habitat: Rocky areas and desert[107] Diet: Plants and insects[107] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian gerbil | T. indica (Hardwicke, 1807) |
Southern and western Asia | Size: 14–21 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tail[14] Habitat: Forest, desert, grassland, and shrubland[108] Diet: Roots, bulbs, seeds, vegetation, insects, eggs, and birds[16] |
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congo gerbil | T. congicus Thomas, 1915 |
Central Africa | Size: 9–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 13–19 cm (5–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna and shrubland[109] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
|
| Emin's gerbil
|
T. emini (Thomas, 1892) |
Eastern Africa | Size: 10–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 15–16 cm (6–6 in) tail[5] Habitat: Grassland, savanna, and shrubland[111] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
|
| Gracile tateril | T. gracilis (Thomas, 1892) |
Western Africa | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 13–18 cm (5–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna, forest, and shrubland[112] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
|
| Harrington's gerbil | T. harringtoni (Thomas, 1906) |
Eastern Africa[5] | Size: 10–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 15–16 cm (6–6 in) tail[5] Habitat: Shrubland and savanna[110] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
NE
|
| Lake Chad gerbil | T. lacustris (Thomas & Wroughton, 1907) |
North-central Africa | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 13–17 cm (5–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Shrubland and savanna[113] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
|
| Petter's gerbil | T. petteri Sicard, Tranier, & Gautun, 1988 |
Western Africa | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 12–17 cm (5–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna and shrubland[114] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
|
| Robbins's tateril | T. arenarius Robbins, 1974 |
Western Africa | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 14–16 cm (6–6 in) tail[5] Habitat: Shrubland and savanna[115] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
|
| Senegal gerbil | T. pygargus (F. Cuvier, 1838) |
Western Africa | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 12–17 cm (5–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Shrubland and savanna[116] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
|
| Tranier's tateril | T. tranieri Dobigny, Granjon, Aniskin, Ba, & Volobouev, 2003 |
Southern Mauritania and western Mali | Size: 11–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 15–18 cm (6–7 in) tail[5] Habitat: Savanna and shrubland[117] Diet: Grain and insects[110] |
