Mongolian gerbil

The Mongolian gerbil, aka Mongolian jird, hails from Mongolia, China, and the Russian Federation. These critters prefer grassland, desert, shrubland, semi-desert, and steppes; with grasses , herbs, and shrubs on sandy soil. Seen as a pest, they also face habitat destruction at the hands of agriculture and wildfires, as well as persecution and extermination. Still, they remain listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population.

First the Stats… Scientific name: Meriones unguiculatus Weight: Up to 2 ounces Length: Up to 4.4 inches, plus up to a 4.7 inch tail Lifespan: Up to 3 years

Now on to the Facts! 1.) Brought to the United States back in 1954, these cute critters quickly became popular household pets.

2.) Gerbils live in social, patriarchal (led by a dominant male) colonies.

3.) Their complex burrows can contain up to 20 or more exits.

4.) Each group can patrol an area of up to 5,085 square feet.

5.) They may be social, but that is just within their own colony. Strangers, picked up by their keen sense of smell, are often chased away and are sometimes killed.

But wait, there’s more on the Mongolian gerbil! 6.) Mongolian gerbils are primarily diurnal (active during the day) with occasional patterns of nocturnality (night activity).

7.) Colonies consist of a dominant male and female and their offspring.

Did you know…? Like hamsters , gerbils enjoy sand and dust bathing. This keeps the quality of their fur up and removes excess oils.

8.) These gerbils are herbivores (eat plant matter) that collect, cache, and eat grasses, flowering plants, berries, fruits, seeds, and grains. They’re also known for wreaking havoc on agricultural fields.

9.) They are monogamous (mate for life).

10.) Females undergo up to a 26 day gestation (pregnancy) that yields up to 8 pups.

But wait, there’s more on the Mongolian gerbil! 11.) Pups are born altricial (blind and helpless), like other rodents.

12.) Mongolian gerbils have become popular as pets, due to their friendly disposition and cleanliness. Since their kidneys have evolved to produce little waste, which conserves water, they tend to be cleaner and have less smell than other rodents, like hamsters, mice , or rats .

13.) Their primary predators are snakes, birds of prey, and humans.

Now a Short Mongolian Gerbil Video!

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Learn more about all kinds of cool critters, right here ! toolTips('.classtoolTips14','

Gestation is the process of carrying or being carried in the womb between conception and birth. In other words, pregnancy.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips16','

Predation is the ecological process by which an animal (or an organism) kills and feeds on another. The animal that kills to feed is called a predator . The 1 that is killed to be eaten is called prey.

Some examples or predators are: raptors , wolves , snakes , cats , and sharks .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips18','

Organisms that are nocturnal are active at night. Animals that fit into this category are typically prey animals that rely on the cover of darkness as a defense. Granted, there are no shortage of predators at night. Some organisms adopt a nocturnal lifestyle due to climate issues. Many desert dwelling animals are nocturnal as it is simply cooler outside at night. Aardvarks , badgers , bandicoots , and aye-ayes are just some examples of nocturnal creatures.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips22','

Animals hatched or born in an undeveloped state that require care and feeding by one or both of the parents is called altricial. Some examples are: owls , marsupials , cats , dogs , and rodents .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips24','

Animals that eat mostly or exclusively grass, shrubs, seeds, and nuts are called herbivores. This category can also be broken down into subgroups too.

Critters that fall into this category are: cows , elk , buffalo , sheep , goats , and many rodents , to name a few.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips24','

Animals that eat mostly or exclusively grass, shrubs, seeds, and nuts are called herbivores. This category can also be broken down into subgroups too.

Critters that fall into this category are: cows , elk , buffalo , sheep , goats , and many rodents , to name a few.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips31','

An animal that falls into this category is active during the day. Animals that fit this description typically use sight for hunting prey. Others, like turtles , are active during the day as they need the sun\'s rays to aid in the production of vitamin D, which is needed to help process calcium and prevent metabolic bone disease. Hummingbirds rely on the sun as most of the nectar they gather comes from flowers that are open during the day. Cows , dogs , elephants , butterflies , and squirrels , for example, are diurnal.');

Mongolian gerbil

The Mongolian Gerbil