Gerbillinae is one of the subfamilies of the

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

family

Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are either the largest or second-largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 870 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. ...

and includes the gerbils, jirds, and sand rats. Once known as desert rats, the subfamily includes about 110 species of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

n, and

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

n rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats. Most are primarily active during the day, making them diurnal (but some species, including the common household pet, exhibit

crepuscular In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period, being matutinal (active during dawn), vespertine (biology), vespertine/vespertinal (active during dusk), or both. This is distinguished from diurnalit ...

behavior), and almost all are

omnivorous An omnivore () is an animal that regularly consumes significant quantities of both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize ...

. The gerbil got its name as a diminutive form of "

jerboa Jerboas () are the members of the family Dipodidae. They are hopping desert rodents found throughout North Africa and Asia. They tend to live in hot deserts. When chased, jerboas can run at up to . Some species are preyed on by little owls (''A ...

", an unrelated group of rodents occupying a similar

ecological niche In ecology, a niche is the match of a species to a specific environmental condition. Three variants of ecological niche are described by It describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of Resource (biology), resources an ...

. Gerbils are typically between long, including the tail, which makes up about half of their total length. One species, the

great gerbil The great gerbil (''Rhombomys opimus'') is a large rodent found throughout much of Central Asia. Description The largest of the gerbils, great gerbils have a head and body length of . Their skulls are distinctive by having two grooves in each i ...

(''Rhombomys opimus''), originally native to

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...

, can grow to more than . The average adult gerbil weighs about . One species, the Mongolian gerbil (''

Meriones unguiculatus The Mongolian gerbil or Mongolian jird (''Meriones unguiculatus'') is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. Their body size is typically , with a tail, and body weight , with adult males larger than females. The animal is used in s ...

''), also known as the ''clawed jird'', is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular small house pet. It is also used in some scientific research.

Classification

SUBFAMILY GERBILLINAE **Genus '' Ammodillus'' *** Ammodile, ''Ammodillus imbellis'' *Tribe Desmodilliscini **Genus '' Desmodilliscus'' ***

Pouched gerbil The pouched gerbil (''Desmodilliscus braueri'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Desmodilliscus'' and the subtribe Desmodilliscina. It is found across western Africa from Mauritania east to Su ...

, ''Desmodilliscus braueri'' **Genus '' Pachyuromys'' ***

Fat-tailed gerbil The fat-tailed gerbil (''Pachyuromys duprasi''), also called the duprasi gerbil or doop, is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. It is only species in the genus ''Pachyuromys''. They are frequently kept as pets. Other common Engli ...

, ''Pachyuromys duprasi'' *Tribe Gerbillini **Subtribe Gerbillina ***Genus ''

Dipodillus ''Dipodillus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are either the largest or second-largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 870 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbil ...

'' **** Botta's gerbil, ''Dipodillus bottai'' **** North African gerbil, ''Dipodillus campestris'' **** Wagner's gerbil, ''Dipodillus dasyurus'' **** Harwood's gerbil, ''Dipodillus harwoodi'' **** James's gerbil, ''Dipodillus jamesi'' **** Lowe's gerbil, ''Dipodillus lowei'' **** Mackilligin's gerbil, ''Dipodillus mackilligini'' **** Greater short-tailed gerbil, ''Dipodillus maghrebi'' **** Rupicolous gerbil, ''Dipodillus rupicola'' **** Lesser short-tailed gerbil, ''Dipodillus simoni'' **** Somalian gerbil, ''Dipodillus somalicus'' **** Khartoum gerbil, ''Dipodillus stigmonyx'' ****

Kerkennah Islands gerbil The Kerkennah Islands gerbil (''Dipodillus zakariai'') is a rodent from Kerkennah Islands, Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and sou ...

, ''Dipodillus zakariai'' ***Genus ''

Gerbillus ''Gerbillus'' is a genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV clas ...

'' ****Subgenus '' Hendecapleura'' ***** Pleasant gerbil, ''Gerbillus amoenus'' ***** Brockman's gerbil, ''Gerbillus brockmani'' ***** Black-tufted gerbil, ''Gerbillus famulus'' ***** Algerian gerbil, ''Gerbillus garamantis'' ***** Grobben's gerbil, ''Gerbillus grobbeni'' ***** Pygmy gerbil, ''Gerbillus henleyi'' ***** Mauritanian gerbil, ''Gerbillus mauritaniae'' (sometimes considered a separate genus ''Monodia'') ***** Harrison's gerbil, ''Gerbillus mesopotamiae'' ***** Darfur gerbil, ''Gerbillus muriculus'' ***** Balochistan gerbil, ''Gerbillus nanus'' ***** Large Aden gerbil, ''Gerbillus poecilops'' ***** Principal gerbil, ''Gerbillus principulus'' ***** Least gerbil, ''Gerbillus pusillus'' ***** Sand gerbil, ''Gerbillus syrticus'' ***** Waters's gerbil, ''Gerbillus watersi'' ****Subgenus ''

'' ***** Berbera gerbil, ''Gerbillus acticola'' ***** Agag gerbil, ''Gerbillus agag'' ***** Anderson's gerbil, ''Gerbillus andersoni'' ***** Swarthy gerbil, ''Gerbillus aquilus'' ***** Burton's gerbil, ''Gerbillus burtoni'' ***** Cheesman's gerbil, ''Gerbillus cheesmani'' ***** Dongola gerbil, ''Gerbillus dongolanus'' ***** Somalia gerbil, ''Gerbillus dunni'' ***** Flower's gerbil, ''Gerbillus floweri'' ***** Lesser Egyptian gerbil, ''Gerbillus gerbillus'' ***** Indian hairy-footed gerbil, ''Gerbillus gleadowi'' ***** Western gerbil, ''Gergbillus hesperinus'' ***** Hoogstraal's gerbil, ''Gerbillus hoogstraali'' ***** Lataste's gerbil, ''Gerbillus latastei'' ***** Sudan gerbil, ''Gerbillus nancillus'' ***** Nigerian gerbil, ''Gerbillus nigeriae'' ***** Occidental gerbil, ''Gerbillus occiduus'' *****

Pale gerbil The pale gerbil (''Gerbillus perpallidus'') is endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigen ...

, ''Gerbillus perpallidus'' ***** Cushioned gerbil, ''Gerbillus pulvinatus'' ***** Greater Egyptian gerbil, ''Gerbillus pyramidum'' ***** Rosalinda gerbil, ''Gerbillus rosalinda'' ***** Tarabul's gerbil, ''Gerbillus tarabuli'' ***Genus '' Microdillus'' ****

Somali pygmy gerbil The Somali pygmy gerbil (''Microdillus peeli'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Microdillus''. It is found only in Somalia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland Tr ...

, ''Microdillus peeli'' **Subtribe Rhombomyina ***Genus '' Brachiones'' **** Przewalski's gerbil, ''Brachiones przewalskii'' ***Genus '' Meriones'' ****Subgenus '' Meriones'' ***** Tamarisk jird, ''Meriones tamariscinus'' ****Subgenus '' Parameriones'' ***** Persian jird, ''Meriones persicus'' ***** King jird, ''Meriones rex'' ****Subgenus '' Pallasiomys'' ***** Arabian jird, ''Meriones arimalius'' ***** Cheng's jird, ''Meriones chengi'' ***** Sundevall's jird, ''Meriones crassus'' ***** Dahl's jird, ''Meriones dahli'' ***** Moroccan jird, ''Meriones grandis'' ***** Libyan jird, ''Meriones libycus'' ***** Midday jird, ''Meriones meridianus'' ***** Buxton's jird, ''Meriones sacramenti'' ***** Shaw's jird, ''Meriones shawi'' ***** Tristram's jird, ''Meriones tristrami'' *****

Mongolian jird The Mongolian gerbil or Mongolian jird (''Meriones unguiculatus'') is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. Their body size is typically , with a tail, and body weight , with adult males larger than females. The animal is used in ...

(Mongolian Gerbil), ''Meriones unguiculatus'' ***** Vinogradov's jird, ''Meriones vinogradovi'' ***** Zarudny's jird, ''Meriones zarudnyi'' ****Subgenus '' Cheliones'' ***** Indian desert jird, ''Meriones hurrianae'' ***Genus '' Psammomys'' ****

Fat sand rat The fat sand rat (''Psammomys obesus'') is a terrestrial mammal from the Gerbillinae, gerbil subfamily that is mostly found in North Africa and the Middle East, ranging from Mauritania to the Arabian Peninsula. This species usually lives in sandy ...

, ''Psammomys obesus'' **** Thin sand rat, ''Psammomys vexillaris'' ***Genus '' Rhombomys'' ****

Great gerbil The great gerbil (''Rhombomys opimus'') is a large rodent found throughout much of Central Asia. Description The largest of the gerbils, great gerbils have a head and body length of . Their skulls are distinctive by having two grooves in each i ...

, ''Rhombomys opimus'' **''

Incertae sedis or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

'' ***Genus '' Sekeetamys'' ****

Bushy-tailed jird The bushy-tailed jird or bushy-tailed dipodil (''Sekeetamys calurus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Sekeetamys''. It is found in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. Its natural h ...

, ''Sekeetamys calurus'' *Tribe Gerbillurini **Genus '' Desmodillus'' ***

Cape short-eared gerbil The Cape short-eared gerbil (''Desmodillus auricularis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Desmodillus''. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitats are ho ...

, ''Desmodillus auricularis'' **Genus ''

Gerbilliscus ''Gerbilliscus'' is a genus of rodent in the subfamily Gerbillinae (gerbils) of the family Muridae. It contains the following species, all native to Africa: * Cape gerbil (''Gerbilliscus afra'') * Boehm's gerbil (''Gerbilliscus boehmi'') * Hi ...

'' *** Cape gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus afra'' *** Boehm's gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus boehmi'' *** Highveld gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus brantsii'' *** Guinean gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus guineae'' *** Gorongoza gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus inclusus'' ***

Kemp's gerbil Kemp's gerbil (''Gerbilliscus kempi'') is a species of rodent. Mammal Species of the World considers ''G. kempi'' and ''G. gambianus'' to be Synonym (taxonomy), synonyms, however the IUCN has assessed each taxon as were they different species. A ...

, ''Gerbilliscus kempi'' *** Bushveld gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus leucogaster'' *** Black-tailed gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus nigricaudus'' ***

Phillips's gerbil Phillips's gerbil (''Gerbilliscus phillipsi'') is a species of rodent found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community chara ...

, ''Gerbilliscus phillipsi'' *** Fringe-tailed gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus robustus'' *** Savanna gerbil, ''Gerbilliscus validus'' **Genus ''

Gerbillurus ''Gerbillurus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are either the largest or second-largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 870 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbi ...

'' *** Hairy-footed gerbil, ''Gerbillurus paeba'' *** Namib brush-tailed gerbil, ''Gerbillurus setzeri'' *** Dune hairy-footed gerbil, ''Gerbillurus tytonis'' *** Bushy-tailed hairy-footed gerbil, ''Gerbillurus vallinus'' **Genus '' Tatera'' ***

Indian gerbil The Indian gerbil (''Tatera indica'') also known as antelope rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in western and southern Asia, from Syria east through to Bangladesh. It is the only species in the genus ''Tatera''. M ...

, ''Tatera indica'' *Tribe Taterillini **Genus ''

Taterillus ''Taterillus'' is a genus of rodents. The species within this genus can only be reliably distinguished on the basis of karyotype, and not by external appearance. The genus contains the following species: * Robbins's tateril (''Taterillus arenar ...

'' *** Robbins's tateril, ''Taterillus arenarius'' *** Congo gerbil, ''Taterillus congicus'' *** Emin's gerbil, ''Taterillus emini'' *** Gracile tateril, ''Taterillus gracilis'' ***

Harrington's gerbil Harrington's gerbil or Harrington's tateril (''Taterillus harringtoni'') is a species of rodent found in the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical ...

, ''Taterillus harringtoni'' *** Lake Chad gerbil, ''Taterillus lacustris'' *** Petter's gerbil, ''Taterillus petteri'' *** Senegal gerbil, ''Taterillus pygargus'' *** Tranieri's tateril, ''Taterillus tranieri''

References

Citations

Resources

CMDC C111 "Normative Biology Diseases Gerbils"
��Division of Comparative Medicine, Office of Research & Innovation, University of South Florida * McKenna, M. C. and S. K. Bell. 1997. ''Classification of Mammals above the Species Level''. Columbia University Press, New York. * Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 1993. "Family Muridae". pp. 501–755 in ''Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference''. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder, eds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. * Nowak, R. M. 1999. ''Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2''. Johns Hopkins University Press, London. * Pavlinov, I. Ya., Yu. A. Dubrovskiy, O. L. Rossolimo, E. G. Potapova. 1990. ''Gerbils of the World''. Nauka, Moscow. {{Authority control Mammal subfamilies Taxa named by John Edward Gray