Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)
Authoritative first-hand species account (Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan). All bullet facts are verbatim from the cited source and C1-substring verified.
Natural History & Origin
- They are also found in adjacent parts of southern Siberia and northern
- Mongolian jird body length averages 120 mm long, tail length may range up to 120 mm.
- 20 months of age, though average lifespan in the wild is 3-4 months (Nowak, 1991).
Habitat
- Gerbils, or jirds, live in clay or sandy deserts, grasslands, scrub, arid steppes,
- They live in family groups in small burrows dug into soft soil.
- burrows are characterized by one nest and one to two storerooms, the burrows extend
Size
- (less than 230 mm a year) and a long winter (October to April).
- 0.45-0.60 meters underground and average 4cm in diameter.
- Males are slightly larger than females, with males averaging 60 grams and females
Lifespan
- Mongolian gerbils live in the highlands in Inner Mongolia.
- The first documented pet Mongolian gerbil lived in the
Behavior & Social Structure
- Ecology and social behaviour of Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, at Xilinhot,
Reproduction
- Wild mongolian gerbils breed between February and October, producing up to three litters.
- The estrus cycle lasts 4-6 days and a post-partum estrus can occur.
- Litter size varies between 1 and 12, but averages 4 to 7.
Diet
- Captive mongolian gerbils eat a wide variety of foods, including grains, grasses,
- become established in new areas and pose a threat to native wildlife through competition
- animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently