Gerbillus

Burton gerbil ( Gerbillus burtoni )

The Real gerbils ( Gerbillus ) are a rodent species from the group of gerbils ( Gerbillinae ). The 60 species of this genus live in the northern and eastern Africa, and the southwestern and southern Asia.

Description

True Gerbils reach a body length 5-13 cm, a tail length of 7-18 cm and a weight of 10-63 grams. Their fur is yellow gray on the top or reddish colored, the edges are brighter and the belly whitish. The tail is continuous hairy and usually at the end with a small tassel. They have the gerbils for typical extended hind legs, the body is slim. Remarkable are the elongated ears and claws.

Way of life

True gerbils live in dry areas with sandy or rocky ground, often with little vegetation. They are crepuscular or nocturnal, during the day they retreat into self- constructed burrows. These can be two to three meters long and have an upholstered with plants nest on, they are also used for storing food supplies. Many animals dig their burrows in the immediate vicinity of Nachbarbaue and awaken as the appearance of large colonies. The food of the rights gerbils consists of seeds, roots, nuts, grasses and occasionally insects.

After a gestation period of around 20 to 22 days the female gives birth to one to eight ( average of four to five ) pups. These are naked and blind at birth, open your eyes, with around 16 to 20 days and are weaned at one month.

True race mice and men

Some types of the Real gerbils are popular as pets, including the Small Egyptian gerbil ( Gerbillus Gerbillus ), the Great Egyptian gerbil ( Gerbillus pyramidum ), the Pale gerbil ( Gerbillus perpallidus ) or the Baluchistan - gerbil ( Gerbillus nanus ).

Many species are, however, due to its small distribution area as threatened. In addition, the exact area of ​​distribution of many species and the delineation of individual species is unknown to each other. More than 20 species are therefore listed by the IUCN under " too little data available " ( data deficient ).

System

True race mice are divided into three subgenera, Handecapleura, Dipodillus and Gerbillus. Dipodillus is most strikingly short tail and short hind legs visible, the animals of the subgenera Handecapleura and Gerbillus distinguished by the glabrous in the former soles.

About the number of species is disputed, it varies from 40 to 60 follows The following list Wilson & Reeder.

Subgenus Handecapleura

  • The Giza dwarf gerbil ( Gerbillus amoenus ) is common in Egypt and Libya.
  • The Botta - gerbil ( Gerbillus Bottai ) lives in Sudan and Kenya.
  • The Brockman gerbil ( Gerbillus brockmani ) is endemic in Somalia.
  • The North African gerbil ( Gerbillus campestris ) is found throughout North Africa ( from Morocco to Sudan).
  • The Wagner gerbil ( Gerbillus Dasyurus ) lives in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Gerbillus diminutus is endemic in Kenya.
  • The Black Tassel gerbil ( Gerbillus famulus ) lives exclusively in Yemen.
  • The Algerian gerbil ( Gerbillus garamantis ) is located in Algeria.
  • The Grobben - gerbil ( Gerbillus grobbeni ) lives in the Libyan region of Cyrenaica.
  • The Harwood gerbil ( Gerbillus harwoodi ) is based in Kenya.
  • The Henley- gerbil ( Gerbillus henleyi ) is widespread throughout northern Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula.
  • The James gerbil ( Gerbillus jamesi ) is endemic in Tunisia.
  • The Julian gerbil ( Gerbillus juliani ) lives in Somalia.
  • The Mackillingin - gerbil ( Gerbillus mackillingini ) lives exclusively in the southeastern Egypt and the subsequent Sudan.
  • The Great Short-tailed gerbil ( Gerbillus maghrebi ) is known only from a location near the Moroccan city of Fez.
  • The Mauritanian gerbil ( Gerbillus Mauritian taniae ) is endemic in Mauritania.
  • The Mesopotamian gerbil ( Gerbillus mesopotamiae ) lives in Iraq and southwestern Iran.
  • The Darfur gerbil ( Gerbillus muriculus ) is native to the Darfur region in western Sudan.
  • The Baluchistan - gerbil ( Gerbillus nanus ) is, despite its name throughout North Africa and Southwest Asia ( from Morocco to India) spread.
  • The Percival gerbil ( Gerbillus percivali ) is known only from Kenya.
  • The Great Aden Gerbil ( Gerbillus poecilops ) lives in Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia.
  • Gerbillus principulus is only known from one location in Sudan.
  • The dwarf gerbil ( Gerbillus pusillus) is Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya widespread.
  • The Four Patch gerbil ( Gerbillus quadrimaculatus ) lives exclusively in northeastern Sudan.
  • The Little Red gerbil ( Gerbillus ruberrimus ) is native to the Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya.
  • The Somali gerbil ( Gerbillus somalicus ) lives exclusively in Somalia.
  • The Khartoum- gerbil ( Gerbillus stigmonyx ) is located in Sudan.
  • The sand gerbil ( Gerbillus syrticus ) is known only from Libya.
  • Gerbillus vivax also only lives in Libya.
  • The Waters gerbil ( Gerbillus watersi ) is known from Somalia and Sudan.

Subgenus Dipodillus

  • The little short-tailed gerbil ( Gerbillus simoni ) is widespread in northeastern Africa ( from Algeria to Egypt).
  • Gerbillus zakariai is known only from the Kerkenna Islands off the coast of Tunisia.

Subgenus Gerbillus

  • The Berbera gerbil ( Gerbillus acticola ) is endemic in Somalia and known only from a few localities.
  • The Agag - gerbil ( Gerbillus agag ) is in Africa south of the Sahara ( Mauritania to Sudan) spread.
  • The Allenby gerbil ( Gerbillus allenbyi ) is known only from the Israeli Mediterranean coast (Haifa to Gaza ).
  • The Anderson - gerbil ( Gerbillus andersoni ) lives in the Egyptian Nile Valley.
  • The Dark gerbil ( Gerbillus AQUILUS ) is native to western Pakistan and southern Afghanistan in southeastern Iran.
  • The Bonhote - gerbil ( Gerbillus bonhotei ) is located in the northeast of the Sinai Peninsula.
  • The Burton gerbil ( Gerbillus burtoni ) is known only from one location in the Darfur region and is one of the rarest species.
  • The Cheesman - gerbil ( Gerbillus cheesmani ) lives around the Arabian Peninsula and southern Iran.
  • The Cosens - gerbil ( Gerbillus cosensi ) is so far known only from Kenya.
  • The Dallon - gerbil ( Gerbillus dalloni ) lives exclusively in the Tibesti region in Chad.
  • The Dongola gerbil ( Gerbillus dongolanus ) is known only from Dongola in Sudan.
  • The Somalia - gerbil ( Gerbillus dunni ) is widespread in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia.
  • The Flower gerbil ( Gerbillus floweri ) is known only from the Sinai Peninsula.
  • The Small Egyptian gerbil ( Gerbillus Gerbillus ) is widespread throughout northern Africa.
  • The Indian Haarfuß - gerbil ( Gerbillus gleadowi ) lives in Pakistan and northwestern India.
  • Gerbillus hesperidus is located on the Moroccan Atlantic coast.
  • The Hoogstraal - gerbil ( Gerbillus hoogstraali ) is known only from one location in Morocco.
  • The Lataste - gerbil ( Gerbillus latastei ) lives in Tunisia and Libya.
  • The Sudan gerbil ( Gerbillus nancillus ) is located in the northwestern Sudan.
  • The Nigeria - gerbil ( Gerbillus nigeriae ) lives in northern Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
  • The Western gerbil ( Gerbillus occiduus ) is known only from Morocco.
  • The Pale gerbil ( Gerbillus perpallidus ) lives exclusively in the northwestern Egypt.
  • Gerbillus pulvinatus (syn. Gerbillus bilensis ) is in Djibouti, and possibly widespread in southwest Ethiopia in the north- western Kenya in the south east of Sudan.
  • The Great Egyptian gerbil ( Gerbillus pyramidum ) lives in Egypt and northern Sudan in the Nile Valley.
  • The Riggenbach gerbil ( Gerbillus riggenbachi ) is native to the Western Sahara and northern Senegal.
  • The Rosalinda - gerbil ( Gerbillus rosalinda ) is used in the Kordofan region of Sudan.
  • Dia Tarabul - gerbil ( Gerbillus tarabuli ) lives in Libya.
Near East Least gerbil Tibesti Mountains Don E. Wilson
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