Anderson's gerbil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anderson's gerbil |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gerbillus
|
| Species: |
andersoni
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Anderson's gerbil (Gerbillus andersoni) is a small rodent found in sandy areas. You can find them from Tunisia in North Africa all the way to Israel in the Middle East. These gerbils live and eat much like other types of gerbils. A baby gerbil is born about 20 to 22 days after its mother gets pregnant. Usually, a mother gerbil has four or five babies at a time.
Contents
What Anderson's Gerbil Looks Like
Anderson's gerbil is a medium-sized rodent. It has a long tail compared to the rest of its body.
Fur and Color
This gerbil has thick fur. It is tan with a reddish tint on its back and sides. Its belly is white.
Ears and Eyes
Anderson's gerbil has very large, dark ears. Unlike some other gerbils, it does not have a white patch behind its ears. Like other gerbils in its group (called Gerbillus), it has big eyes. There is a black ring around each eye. It also has a clear white patch right above each eye.
Size and Weight
The gerbil's back legs are long, while its front legs are shorter. An Anderson's gerbil can be about 19 to 27 cm (7.5 to 10.6 in) long. Its tail can be anywhere from 11 to 15 cm (4.3 to 5.9 in) long. These small mammals usually weigh between 15.9 to 38.4 grams (0.56 to 1.35 oz).
Where Anderson's Gerbil Lives
Anderson's gerbil mostly lives in sandy deserts. You can often find them in sand dunes, especially those near the coast. These dunes are sometimes hardened.
Inland Habitats
These gerbils also live further inland, away from the coast. Here, they prefer sandy areas in valleys or very dry places. They can even be found on mountainsides.
Countries Where They Live
Anderson's gerbils live along the coastal plains of North Africa and the Middle East. This includes countries like Tunisia, northern Libya, Egypt, Israel, and southwestern Jordan.
How Anderson's Gerbil Lives and Reproduces
Like all gerbils in the Gerbillus group, Anderson's gerbil is a burrowing rodent. This means they dig tunnels and homes underground.
Lifestyle and Home
Evidence suggests these gerbils might have a nomadic lifestyle. This means they move around a lot. The burrows they build are not as complex as those made by some other gerbil types. However, sometimes they live in groups if they find a really good place to stay. They usually only use a small area, about 32 to 34 m2 (340 to 370 sq ft), as their home range. They are also nocturnal, meaning they are active at night.
Diet and Breeding
Anderson's gerbils are seed-eaters. They mainly eat the seeds from a common evergreen plant called Thymelaea hirsuta. They breed in late winter and early spring. This is when the Thymelaea hirsuta plant drops its seeds. Both male and female gerbils are ready to reproduce only once a year. The mother gerbil is pregnant for 20 to 22 days. She usually gives birth to three to seven babies. These young gerbils can have their own babies when they are about one year old.
Threats to Anderson's Gerbil
Anderson's gerbil is not considered a threatened species. The IUCN Red List, which tracks how endangered animals are, lists this gerbil as "least concern." This means they are not currently at risk of disappearing. The only possible problem mentioned for them is that too much grazing by other animals could affect their habitat in some areas.
