Hairy-footed gerbil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy-footed gerbil |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Gerbillurus |
| Species: |
G. paeba
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| Binomial name | |
| Gerbillurus paeba (A. Smith, 1836)
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The hairy-footed gerbil (Gerbillurus paeba) is a small rodent that lives in parts of southern Africa. You can find it in countries like Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It gets its special name because all gerbils in its group have hair on the bottom of their feet!
These gerbils like to live in many different places. Their homes can be dry savannas, warm shrublands, hot deserts, sandy beaches, and even some urban areas. They especially like sandy soil with grass, bushes, or light trees.
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What the Hairy-Footed Gerbil Looks Like
The hairy-footed gerbil is quite small. It usually weighs about 27 grams, which is less than other gerbils in its family. Its body is about 9 centimeters long, and its tail adds another 11 centimeters.
The most unique thing about this gerbil is its feet. The bottoms of its feet have little tufts of hair. Each toe also has hairs on it. This is why it's called the "hairy-footed" gerbil!
Its fur color is similar to other gerbils in its group. However, the exact color can change depending on where the gerbil lives. Their upper bodies can be reddish-orange or a greyish-red. The fur on their bellies is always white. Their tails are the same color as their upper bodies.
Where the Hairy-Footed Gerbil Lives
The hairy-footed gerbil lives in southern Africa. You can find it in countries like Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
It lives in many different natural places. These include dry savannas, temperate shrublands, and hot deserts. They can also be found near sandy shores and sometimes even in urban areas.
These gerbils are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. During the day, they rest in burrows they dig underground. Their burrows usually have several entrances. They are also terrestrial, meaning they live on the ground. They often hide the entrances to their burrows at the bottom of bushes or in clumps of grass.
What the Hairy-Footed Gerbil Eats
Hairy-footed gerbils eat different kinds of food. They feed on the grass and bushes that grow around their burrows. They also like to chew on fallen, dry seed pods from thorn trees. The seeds of the raisin bush are another favorite food. Besides plants, they also eat insects.
How the Hairy-Footed Gerbil Behaves
Hairy-footed gerbils sometimes groom each other. This is called social grooming. One gerbil will lie down, and another will stand over it and clean its fur.
They also have their own ways of keeping clean. This includes scratching themselves and washing their faces. They also lick and clean their tails. Another common behavior is sand bathing, where they roll around in the sand to clean their fur.
The Name of the Hairy-Footed Gerbil
The name Gerbillurus paeba has an interesting history. The word "gerbille" comes from a French name for a small mouse. The second part of its name, "paeba," comes from the local Tswana language. In Tswana, "paeba" is the word for mouse.
 | Laphonza Butler |
 | Daisy Bates |
 | Elizabeth Piper Ensley |
