Andrews's three-toed jerboa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andrews's three-toed jerboa |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Stylodipus
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| Species: |
andrewsi
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The Andrews's three-toed jerboa, also known as the Mongolian jerboa, (Stylodipus andrewsi) is a small rodent. It belongs to the Dipodidae family, which includes many types of jerboas. This jerboa lives in parts of China, specifically in Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Ningxia provinces. It is also found in Mongolia. These animals are known for their long hind legs, which they use to hop around like tiny kangaroos!
What Does It Look Like?
The Andrews's three-toed jerboa is a small animal. It grows to be about 11 to 13 centimeters (4 to 5 inches) long. Its tail is usually longer than its body. This jerboa typically weighs around 60 grams, which is about the same as a small apple.
Its head is grey, and it has white spots above its eyes. There is also a white spot behind each ear. The rest of its fur is a buffish-grey color. A white band stretches across its hips, and its belly is white.
One special thing about this jerboa is its feet. It has three toes on each hind foot, and the middle toe is the longest. The bottom of its feet are covered in hair. This helps it move easily on sandy ground.
Its tail is also very interesting. It is thicker near the body because it stores fat there. The end of the tail has a flattened, black, bushy section. This jerboa is similar to another type called the thick-tailed three-toed jerboa. However, the Andrews's jerboa has small extra teeth in its upper jaw, which the other one does not.
How Does It Live?
The Andrews's three-toed jerboa is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active mostly at night. It is also a solitary animal, preferring to live alone.
It makes its home in dry and semi-dry areas. These include steppes (grassy plains) and grasslands. You can also find it in sand dunes that have some scrubby plants. Sometimes, it even lives in forests with pine trees and other mixed trees, especially where there is thick undergrowth.
This jerboa eats different parts of plants. It feeds on green leaves and stems, roots, and seeds. Female jerboas usually have one litter of babies each year. A litter typically has two to four young jerboas.
Is It Safe?
The Andrews's three-toed jerboa lives in a wide area. Scientists believe there are many of them in total. It also lives in several protected areas, which helps keep them safe.
No major threats to this species have been found. We do not know if its population is growing or shrinking. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has looked at its situation. They have decided that its conservation status is "least concern". This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
