Pygeretmus

Fat -tailed gerbils ( Pygeretmus ) are a genus in the family gerbils with three species which occur in Kazakhstan.

  • Pygeretmus platyurus lives in two separate areas in the western and eastern Kazakhstan.
  • Pygeretmus shitkovi occurs in eastern Kazakhstan.
  • The Erdhase ( Pygeretmus pumilio ) is currently calculated by different authors to the fat -tailed gerbils (eg Wilson & Reeder ), he was formerly placed in its own genus ( Alactagulus ) (eg Nowak ).

Description

The species are similar in general body gerbils ( Jaculus ) with thickened tail. The snout-vent length for P. platyurus 7.5 to 9.5 cm and shitkovi for P. about 10 to 12 cm. The tail is usually slightly longer than the rest of the body. If the fatty tissue of the tail is fully developed it may have a diameter of 12 mm. In contrast to the closely related gerbils tail is missing the tassel. In P. platyurus the hind feet are about 3.0 to 3.5 cm long and P. shitkovi about half a centimeter longer. The hind feet have five toes with the two outer are stunted. The fur color is sandy brown upper side and belly whitish.

Fat -tailed gerbils live in deserts and semi-deserts, and in other areas with dry vegetation. The animals are nocturnal and stay on the ground. They dig underground burrows only simple, which are up to 20 cm long and lie deep to 15 cm. Hibernation takes a maximum from October to April. These rodents feed on plant parts besides spiders and insects. Fat -tailed gerbils mate probably only once a year with up to six offspring per litter.

All species are listed by the IUCN as not at risk.

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