Mammals · Rodentia · Muridae

Mongolian Gerbil

Meriones unguiculatus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Mongolian jird, more properly the Mongolian gerbil, is a steppe rodent with a furry tail ending in a tuft. It lives in family groups that dig burrows with several chambers and exits, and is active in bouts throughout the day. It feeds on seeds, roots and shoots, and stores large reserves for the winter. Since the 1950s it has been bred as a pet and laboratory animal, and is today one of the most widespread domestic small mammals in the world.

Weight

60 g – 130 g

Size

10 cm – 13 cm

Lifespan

3 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertGrasslandHerbivore Omnivore Variable activity Colonial Desert Grassland Mammal

11countries5same family

Fun facts

It is so well adapted to dryness that it produces very little urine and almost dry droppings, which makes its cages smell far less than those of hamsters or mice.
It marks its territory by rubbing its belly against objects: it has a sebaceous gland there, larger in males, that leaves a scent mark.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Steppe, semi-desert and sandy grassland of Mongolia, northern China and southern Russia
Sexual maturity: 43 days
Gestation / incubation: 25 days
Litter / clutch size: 5

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriones_unguiculatus