Gracile tateril facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gracile tateril |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Taterillus
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| Species: |
gracilis
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The gracile tateril or slender gerbil (Taterillus gracilis) is a type of rodent. It lives in many countries in Africa, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. It might also live in Cameroon.
These gerbils like dry places like savannas, farmlands, pastures, and even gardens. They are quite common. Sometimes, farmers see them as a pest because they can eat crops. However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says they are a "least concern" species. This means they are not in danger of disappearing.
What Does the Gracile Tateril Look Like?
The gracile tateril is a small to medium-sized gerbil. Its body, from head to tail base, is about 11.5 centimeters (4.5 inches) long. Its tail is even longer, usually around 15.6 centimeters (6 inches).
Its nose is pointed and often has dark marks. Its cheeks are white, and it has white patches above and behind its large eyes. The ears are long.
The fur on its back is yellowish-brown or reddish-brown. Each hair is grey at the bottom and golden yellow or orange-brown at the tip. Its belly is whitish. The hairs there are grey near the skin and white at the tips. The colors on its sides are very clear, like a distinct line.
Its front feet are light-colored on top. The back feet are dark and almost bare on the bottom. The tail has short hairs and a bushy, dark tip that looks like a small "pencil."
Where Do Gracile Taterils Live?
The gracile tateril lives across a wide area in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. You can find them from Senegal in the west, all the way to Nigeria and western Chad.
They prefer dry savanna woodlands and scrublands. These areas get at least 400 millimeters (16 inches) of rain each year. They especially like soil that has a lot of clay. You can often find them where certain trees and shrubs grow.
How Do Gracile Taterils Live?
Gracile taterils are nocturnal. This means they are most active at night. During the day, they rest in their burrows.
They dig simple burrows that go mostly straight down into the ground. These burrows usually do not have many branches.
These gerbils are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They mostly eat seeds, leaves, and plant stems. But they also enjoy eating insects, especially when it's the dry season. During the wet season, they build up fat in their bodies. They use these fat reserves to help them survive when food is scarce in the dry season.
