JERBOA

any of the long-tailed, leaping rodents that constitute the family Dipodidae (order Rodentia). Jerboas inhabit deserts and dry plains in Asia and northern Africa. They are large-eyed animals with soft, sand-coloured fur, and are 5 to 15 centimetres (2 to 6 inches) long, excluding the 7- to 20-cm (3- to 8-in.) tail. They vary in certain features, such as size of ears (small to long and slender) and number of hind toes (three to five), but all have short forelegs, extremely long hind legs, and long, hairy, often tufted tails. Jerboas usually travel only on their hind legs, using their tails to prop themselves up and to balance themselves when leaping. They are swift in flight and can cover up to 3 metres (10 feet) at a bound. They rest by day in burrows and emerge at night to forage for seeds, herbs, grasses, and insects. Some species keep the burrow entrances plugged with earth. Most hibernate over the winter. Jerboas breed one or more times a year; females bear about three young per litter. There are 10 genera and about 25 species of jerboas. Better known forms include the hairy-footed jerboa (Dipus sagitta) of central and eastern Asia; the desert jerboas (Jaculus) of northern Africa, the Near East, and southwestern Asia; and the four- and five-toed jerboas (Allactaga) of Egypt and Asia.