The jird is able to exploit low quality roughage and has a low energy requirement (Choshniak et al., 1987). The long period in which food stays within the lower digestive tract may add to this ability (Yahav et al., 1990). The diet shifts from mainly seeds in the summer to more green vegetation in the winter, possibly to increase water consumption (Degen et al., 1997). Change in the amount of food consumption has been linked to change in circadian rhythm, which is related to seasonal light changes (Haim et al., 1990). Jirds have also been known to eat locusts and other insects (Harrison et al., 1991). Sexual dimorphism also leads to different food intake and food selection, as the larger males tend to be less selective (Khokhlova et al., 1995). Food is stored in the burrows, and jirds normally return from foraging before eating (Koffler, 1972).
Foods eaten include: seeds, grassy vegetation, twigs and insects.
Animal Foods: insects
Plant Foods: leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit
Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore , Granivore )
Nocturnal activity allows individuals to avoid many day predators, and quick movements back to the burrow are used to escape (Gould et al., 1998). Coloration of the fur may also be an adaptive trait to avoid being seen by predators.
Known Predators:
They are small in body size, but comparatively large compared to some other gerbils. The fur is soft and dense. It shows a pattern of counter-shading coloration, with a sandy color and black spots on the dorsal side and solid white on the ventral side (Harrison et al., 1991). The claws are ivory-white. The upper lip, inside of the limbs, and the bottoms of the feet, are white as well. The tail has a black tip (Harrison et al., 1991) and is about the length of the body (Koffler, 1972). Females have four pairs of mammae (Harrison et al., 1991).
Range mass: 29 to 110 g.
Range length: 205 to 290 mm.
Average length: 251.2 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
There have been no recent studies on this subject with only one note of lifespan (Nowak, 1991).
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 5.58 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 5.6 years.
They live in sandy soil in hot and dry environments (Koffler, 1972). Burrow locations are not necessarily dependent on vegetation proximity. They have been found in rocky environments as well. They live in complex burrows, sometimes with multiple exits and several chambers (Harrison et al., 1991).
Habitat Regions: tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune
Extends fromnorthwest Africa above 20 degrees north, through the Middle East and into Central Asia (Koffler, 1972). Parts of Egypt, Libya, northern Tunisia, northern Algeria, and northern Morocco are not inhabited by the species.
Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native )
Jirds probably help disperse seeds when eating and foraging, since they moves food back to the burrow (Roberts, 1997). A number of other animal species have been found inside jird burrows, including tenebrionid beetles, scorpions, riddled hillcocks, and other kinds of gerbils (Koffler, 1972). They have a similar role as Gervillus cheesmani, Jaculus blanfordi, Allactage elater, and Meriones libycus in other areas (Roberts, 1997).
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds; creates habitat
They are used as pets and in medical research.
Positive Impacts: pet trade ; research and education
They are sometimes seen as pests because they cause damage to agriculture, irrigation structures, and may even spread disease (Nowak, 1991). The pet trade may also lead to feral populations.
Negative Impacts: crop pest; causes or carries domestic animal disease
US Migratory Bird Act: no special status
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
Pairs mate during the night, for the period of about two hours with quick copulations and repetition (Koffler, 1972). The mating behavior includes tail beats by the male during mounting; and foot-stomping takes place during courtship. Between mounts, the female grooms the male (Koffler, 1972).
Individuals are able to breed at an early age, and do so throughout the year (Koffler, 1972). The estrus cycle lasts 4.5 days on average and is negatively affected by poor food intake (Khokhlova et al., 2000). Litter size varies from one to eight newborns, averaging 3.5 individuals (Hayssen, 1993). Gestation usually lasts about 21 (Hayssen, 1993) to 26 (Koffler, 1972) days, although it takes longer if the mother is nursing young. Newborns weigh 2.5g to 4.5g at birth.
Breeding season: All year
Range number of offspring: 1 to 8.
Average number of offspring: 3.5.
Range gestation period: 21 to 31 days.
Average weaning age: 1 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 53 (low) days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 53 (low) days.
Key Reproductive Features: year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous
Average birth mass: 3.35 g.
Average number of offspring: 4.
Newborns do not have hair. Hair growth begins after six to nine days, with a full coat complete after two weeks (Koffler, 1972). Weaning is complete after one month and sexual maturity can occur within two months after birth.
The female alone cares for the young until weaning (about one month) (Koffler, 1972).
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care
Widespread.
Native, resident.
Sundevall's jird (Meriones crassus) is a species of rodent in the family of Muridae. It is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan, Morocco, Niger, Palestine, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Western Sahara, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and possibly Mali. Its natural habitat is hot deserts.[1]
Sundevall's jird is a medium-sized gerbilline rodent with an average mass of about 100 g (3.53 oz).[2] They can range in sizes depending on sex. The average length (not including the tail) is about 15 cm (5.91 in).[3] Their tails can be as long as their bodies. Sundevall's jird has a soft, fine, light brown fur, with a lighter underbelly.[3]
The Sundevall's jird is found in dry habitats like deserts across northern Africa.[3] It can be found in rocky areas, but prefers sand-like soil.[3] They create burrows in the sand where they create nests.[4]
Like any mammal, the Sundevall's jird cares for its offspring by producing milk. Being a relatively small mammal, the Sundevall's jird must intake an increased amount of calories in order to produce enough milk.[4] Gestation can last between 18 and 22 days and they give birth to between 2 and 7 pups.[4] Young are born without fur, are blind, and have very long whiskers.[3] The breeding season for Sundevall's jird is from January to September, with peak times from February to May.[4]
The Sundevall's jird can be occupied by a variety of parasites, especially species of fleas.[2] It has been found that male Sundevall's jird harbor more species of parasites than females do, which is still being studied.[2] Along with parasites come the parasites of parasites, in this case bacteria. Bacteria can be transmitted to the Sundevall's jird by the flea biting the rodent.[5]
Sundevall's jird (Meriones crassus) is a species of rodent in the family of Muridae. It is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan, Morocco, Niger, Palestine, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Western Sahara, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and possibly Mali. Its natural habitat is hot deserts.
Sundevall's jird looking from one of the entrances of its burrow.
