Lesser Egyptian gerbil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lesser Egyptian gerbil |
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Gerbillus
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gerbillus
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The Lesser Egyptian Gerbil (Gerbillus gerbillus) is a small rodent that lives in sandy areas. You can find it in North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula. This little creature is quite common. Experts say it's a "least concern" animal, meaning it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
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What Does the Lesser Egyptian Gerbil Look Like?
This gerbil is a small animal. Its body, from head to rump, is about 88 mm (3.5 in) long. Its tail is even longer, around 117 mm (4.6 in).
Its fur is soft and smooth. It's a sandy color, which helps it blend into its desert home. Each hair has a grey bottom and an orangish middle. Some gerbils even have dark tips on their fur.
The gerbil has big, furry ears. It also has white rings around its large eyes. Small white patches can be seen behind its ears. The sides of its body are lighter than its back. There's a white spot just above its tail. Its belly is pure white and stands out clearly from its sides. Its feet are long and covered with white fur. The tail is sandy on top and white underneath. It usually has a white or grey tuft of hair at the very end.
Where Do Lesser Egyptian Gerbils Live?
The Lesser Egyptian Gerbil lives across most of North Africa. Its home stretches from Morocco and Mauritania all the way to Egypt. You can also find it in the Sinai Peninsula and southern Israel. Southward, it lives in northern Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan.
These gerbils love sandy places. They live among dunes and in flat areas between dunes. They also like sandy spots in dry riverbeds called wadis. You might find them near oases and palm groves. They usually avoid coastal areas or the middle of huge sand dunes. However, they are sometimes seen near temporary human camps. They are also attracted to camel droppings, likely looking for seeds.
Lesser Egyptian Gerbil Life and Habits
This gerbil is a master at digging. It creates a complex burrow system underground. These tunnels can be up to 4.5 m (15 ft) long. They can also go as deep as 60 cm (2 ft) into the ground. The burrow has many branching paths and special rooms. These rooms are used for storing food and nesting materials. Even when the air outside is very dry, the air inside the burrow stays humid.
Lesser Egyptian Gerbils are social animals. Several gerbils might share the same burrow. They often live near other types of gerbils and jirds. These include the Anderson's gerbil, the Sundevall's jird, and the greater Egyptian gerbil. They also share their habitat with the lesser Egyptian jerboa.
Daily Life and Diet
These gerbils are active at night, which means they are nocturnal. Their main diet includes seeds and fruits. Sometimes, they also eat buds and leaves. In the spring, they might eat insects too. They enjoy eating fallen dates. They also search through camel dung to find any seeds that might be inside. Sometimes, they even sneak into homes to look for food.
Reproduction
Lesser Egyptian Gerbils are active all year round. Their breeding depends on the temperature and how long the days are. How much food is available also affects how many babies they have. A typical litter has three to six young gerbils. The number of gerbils in a population can change a lot from year to year.
Predators and Homing Ability
Several animals hunt the Lesser Egyptian Gerbil. These predators include the pale fox, the barn owl, and the sand viper.
These gerbils have an amazing ability to find their way home. If they are moved 1,000 m (3,300 ft) away from their burrow, about half of them can still find their way back. Even if they are moved 2,000 m (6,600 ft) away, about 20% can still return home!
Conservation Status
The Lesser Egyptian Gerbil lives across a very large area in North Africa. It is a common animal. While its population size can change from year to year, it seems to be stable over time. No major threats have been found for this species. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed its conservation status as "least concern". This means it is not currently in danger of extinction.
