Cheesman's gerbil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cheesman's gerbil |
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Gerbillus
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| Species: |
cheesmani
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The Cheesman's gerbil (Gerbillus cheesmani) is a small rodent. It belongs to a group of animals called Gerbillinae, which are part of the Muridae family. This little gerbil mainly lives in the Arabian Peninsula and goes as far as southwestern Iran. It has soft orange-brown fur on its back and white fur underneath. It also has big eyes and a very long tail.
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About the Cheesman's Gerbil
Who Named the Cheesman's Gerbil?
A British scientist named Oldfield Thomas first described the Cheesman's gerbil in 1919. He gave it this name to honor Robert Ernest Cheesman. Robert Cheesman was a British officer and explorer. He found this gerbil while exploring in Saudi Arabia.
What Does a Cheesman's Gerbil Look Like?
This gerbil looks a lot like other gerbils, such as the lesser Egyptian gerbil and Anderson's gerbil. Its body, from head to tail base, is about 70 to 110 mm (2.8 to 4.3 in) long. Its tail is even longer, measuring about 90 to 135 mm (3.5 to 5.3 in). Just like some other desert animals, the bottoms of its feet are covered in hair. This helps it move easily on sand. Its fur is orange-brown on its back and white on its belly.
Where Do Cheesman's Gerbils Live?
Cheesman's gerbils are found across the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. You can find them in countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Jordan. They love dry, sandy places. Their homes are often in deserts or flat, salty areas near the coast called sabkha. They also like to live where certain desert plants grow, such as Haloxylon, Calligonum, Ephedra alata, and Artemisia.
How Do Cheesman's Gerbils Live in the Desert?
Cheesman's gerbils are active at night. This means they are nocturnal. During the hot day, they stay cool inside their burrows. At night, they come out to search for food. They mostly eat seeds and grasses. Sometimes, they might eat other things too.
Amazing Desert Adaptations
The hair on their feet helps them run quickly over loose sand. They can also make long jumps. By looking for food at night, they can drink the dew (tiny water drops) that forms on plants. They also save water by making very dry waste and little urine. To keep their burrows humid, they carry damp plants inside. When a gerbil goes into its burrow, it often closes the entrance. It does this by flicking sand across the opening with its tail.
Who Hunts the Cheesman's Gerbil?
Like many small animals, Cheesman's gerbils have predators. These are animals that hunt them for food. Some of their main predators include owls, the Arabian red fox, and Rüppell's fox.
Are Cheesman's Gerbils in Danger?
The Cheesman's gerbil is a common animal. It lives in a very wide area and there are many of them. Scientists believe their numbers are stable, meaning they are not decreasing. No major threats to this animal have been found. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says its conservation status is "least concern". This means they are not currently at risk of disappearing.
