Sundevall's jird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sundevall's jird |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Meriones
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| Species: |
crassus
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| Synonyms | |
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M. longifrons |
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The Sundevall's jird (scientific name: Meriones crassus) is a small, furry animal. It belongs to the rodent family, just like mice and rats. These jirds live in hot deserts across many countries. You can find them in places like Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. They are well-suited for life in dry, sandy areas.
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What Does a Sundevall's Jird Look Like?
Sundevall's jirds are medium-sized rodents. They usually weigh about 100 grams (3.5 ounces). This is about the same weight as a small apple! Their bodies, not including the tail, are around 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) long. Their tails can be as long as their bodies.
These jirds have soft, fine fur. It is usually light brown on their backs. Their bellies are a lighter color. This helps them blend in with the sand and rocks in their desert homes.
Where Do Sundevall's Jirds Live?
Sundevall's jirds live in dry places like deserts. They are found across northern Africa and parts of Asia. While they can live in rocky areas, they really like sandy soil.
In these sandy places, they dig burrows. A burrow is like an underground home. They build nests inside these burrows. These homes keep them safe from predators and the hot desert sun.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Like all mammals, Sundevall's jirds are born from their mothers. The mother jird feeds her babies milk. Because they are small, mother jirds need to eat a lot to make enough milk for their young.
A mother jird is pregnant for about 18 to 22 days. She usually gives birth to 2 to 7 babies at a time. When they are born, the baby jirds are tiny. They do not have fur yet and cannot see. But they do have very long whiskers!
Sundevall's jirds usually have babies from January to September. The busiest time for them to have young is from February to May.
Jirds and Their Tiny Guests
Sometimes, Sundevall's jirds can have tiny creatures living on or inside them. These are called parasites. Fleas are a common type of parasite found on jirds.
Scientists have noticed that male jirds sometimes have more types of parasites than female jirds. This is something they are still studying. These fleas can also carry tiny bacteria. When a flea bites a jird, it can pass these bacteria to the jird.
