The Baluchistan pygmy jerboa (''Salpingotulus michaelis'') or dwarf three-toed jerboa, is a species of

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 lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are roden ...

in the family

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

. It is the only species in the genus ''Salpingotulus''. Adults average only in head and body length, with the tail averaging . Adult females weigh . It is currently considered to be

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. In the 1999

Guinness Book of Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

, it was listed as tied for the smallest rodent in the world with the

African pygmy mouse The African pygmy mouse (''Mus minutoides'') is one of the smallest rodents. It is widespread within sub-Saharan Africa, and is kept as a pet in other parts of the world. Like the common house mouse, it is a member of the enormous superfamily M ...

Distribution

This little rodent species has been recorded from Pakistan and may occur in Afghanistan. It frequents sand dunes, gravel flats and plains in hot deserts.

Ecology

These nocturnal jerboas move through its dry desert habitat in long hops, balancing with the tail. They live in burrows generally excavated under small bushes. They feed on wind blown seeds and succulent leaves of desert-adapted vegetation; food is raised to the mouth using the hands. They undergo a diurnal rhythm of physiological dormancy, when their bodily functions, including respiration and blood circulation, slow down dramatically. This is known as facultative

hypothermia Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below in humans. Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia, there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia, shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe h ...

and enables the species to survive on a diet of low nutritional value. Two to four young, blind and naked at birth, are born in the spring and summer months. No more than 2 litters a year are normally produced.

Predators

The natural predators of the jerboa are the leaf-nosed viper ('' Eristocophis mcmahoni''), the trans-Caspian monitor lizard ('' Varanus caspius''), and the sand cat (''

Felis margarita The sand cat (''Felis margarita'') is a small wild cat that inhabits sandy and stony deserts far from water sources. With its sandy to light grey fur, it is well camouflaged in a desert environment. Its head-and-body length ranges from with a ...

'').

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1768169

Baluchistan pygmy jerboa The Baluchistan pygmy jerboa (''Salpingotulus michaelis'') or dwarf three-toed jerboa, is a species of rodent in the family Dipodidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Salpingotulus''. Adults average only in head and body length, with the ...

Mammals of Pakistan Endemic fauna of Pakistan Taxonomy articles created by Polbot