Gerbil

A gerbil is a small mammal of the order Rodentia.

Related Topics:
Mammal - Rodentia

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Once known simply as "desert rats", the gerbil subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats. Therefore, most are primarily nocturnal, and almost all are omnivorous.

Related Topics:
Africa - India - Asia - Nocturnal - Omnivorous

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One Mongolian species, Meriones unguiculatus, also known as the Clawed Jird, is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular pet. It was first brought to the United States in 1954 by Dr. Victor Schwentker for use in research.

Related Topics:
Mongolia - Meriones unguiculatus - Pet - United States - 1954 - Victor Schwentker

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Gerbils are typically between six and twelve inches (150 to 300 mm) long, and their tail makes up approximately one half of their total length. One species, however, the Great Gerbil, or Rhombomys opimus, originally native to Turkmenistan, can grow to more than 16 inches (400 mm) in length. As of August 19, 2003, officials in western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began releasing eagles to combat the damage they say the great gerbils have done to eleven million acres (46,000 km²) of grassland.http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/08/19/china.gerbils.reut/

Related Topics:
Rhombomys opimus - Turkmenistan - August 19 - 2003 - China - Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region - Eagle

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