Gobi jerboa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gobi jerboa |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Allactaga
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| Species: |
bullata
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The Gobi jerboa (Allactaga bullata) is a small, hopping rodent that lives in the deserts of China and Mongolia. It's part of the Dipodidae family, which includes other jerboas and jumping mice. These amazing creatures are known for their long hind legs, which help them jump far, and their very long tails. They prefer to live in dry, open areas like temperate grasslands and deserts.
The Gobi jerboa was first discovered in 1925 by a scientist named Glover Morrill Allen. It lives mainly in the Gobi Desert, which stretches across northern China and southern Mongolia. Scientists consider it one of the most "desert-loving" rodents in the Gobi region.
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Where the Gobi Jerboa Lives
The Gobi jerboa is native to China and Mongolia. In China, you can find it in areas like Xinjiang, Nei Mongol, and Gansu. In Mongolia, it lives in many desert regions, including the Great Lakes Depression and the Valley of the Lakes. About 21% of the Gobi jerboa's home in Mongolia is in special protected areas.
Gobi Jerboa Habitat and Diet
Gobi jerboas live in desert and steppe areas. These places often have plants like Saltwort, ephedra, and other desert bushes. These jerboas are active at night, which means they are nocturnal. During the day, they rest in their burrows.
Their burrows are simple tunnels, usually about 60 centimeters (2 feet) long. They are easy to spot in the light sand. These burrows have a clear nesting area, but no soft bedding. Gobi jerboas eat a variety of foods, including seeds, roots, and tubers. They also enjoy insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and their larvae.
Gobi Jerboa Life Cycle
Gobi jerboas usually have babies between May and August. They can have one or two litters each year. Each litter typically has one to three young jerboas.
When they are born, Gobi jerboas are naked and completely helpless. They grow slowly compared to many other rodents. They can't jump until they are about 11 weeks old. They also don't become old enough to have their own babies until they are about 14 weeks old. Even though they develop slowly, Gobi jerboas can live for a long time in the wild, sometimes up to 6 years!
Amazing Physical Features
The Gobi jerboa has light-colored fur. Its back and the outside of its thighs are a grayish-buff color. Its belly, forearms, hind legs, and upper lip are pure white. It also has a reddish strip on the outside of its hind thigh.
Its tail is covered with thick, tufted hairs. The base of the tail is white underneath. The middle part of the tail is black with a white stripe, and the very tip is pure white. This long tail helps the jerboa balance and speed up when it jumps on two legs.
One of the most noticeable things about the Gobi jerboa is its very large ears. They are almost three times bigger than its head! These huge ears give the jerboa excellent hearing. This helps them stay safe in their open desert home by hearing predators. Their large ears also help them cool down. The desert can get very hot during the day, and the ears help release extra heat from their bodies.
Protecting the Gobi Jerboa
The Gobi jerboa is currently listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in China. This means scientists don't think it's in danger of disappearing right now. In Mongolia, it's listed as "Data Deficient," meaning there isn't enough information to know its exact status.
This good ranking is because the Gobi jerboa lives in a wide area and is thought to have a large population. Many of them also live in protected areas. Their numbers don't seem to be dropping quickly enough to be considered threatened.
