Long-eared Jerboa: A Curious Desert Rodent
The long-eared jerboa, endemic to China and Mongolia, is a very mouse-like rodent. Let’s discover this curious little animal together.
Some scientists believe it may be related to the Dipodidae. Its tail is twice the length of its body, giving it great balance when running and jumping.
It has long hind legs with large feet and moves like a kangaroo. The soles of his feet are covered with stiff hair that helps him move through the desert. The forelegs are relatively small and does not usually use them to move.
Species of this family are very adept at jumping, undoubtedly an evolutionary strategy for escaping predators. The average life expectancy of the long-eared jerboa is three years.
Behavior of the long-eared jerboa
Since these rodents live in the most remote areas of China and Mongolia, it is difficult for scientists to study them. Therefore, very little is known about this species. All the information on their social behavior is drawn from the data of some groups and from the information available regarding related species.
Long-eared jerboa have nocturnal and solitary habits, and spend the day in underground burrows they have diligently dug.
They are capable of digging four different types of underground lair: a temporary, summer and day cover hole; a second temporary den for night hunting; and two permanent dens, one for the winter and one for the summer.
This species is insectivorous and feeds on flying insects. The way they hunt for food is pretty funny, because they catch their prey by quickly leaping into the air. A curious fact is that they get the amount of liquid they need from food and plants, so they don’t drink water.
Breeding habits
The mating system of the long-eared jerboa is polygamous, meaning multiple females for a single male. Mating occurs soon after hibernation ends. The gestation period lasts between 25 and 35 days and females can give birth to two to six cubs.
Not much is known about parental care of puppies or whether they are involved in their growth. However, like most mammals, the female long-eared jerboa cares and cares for her young at least until weaning.
Morphology of the long-eared jerboa
The length of the tail is about 150 millimeters, while that of the body ranges from 70 to 90 millimeters. The tail is covered with short hair of a similar color to the rest of the body, with the exception of the final part, which is black and white.
The top is yellow to light red, while the belly is white. The hind legs are 40 to 46 millimeters long, and have five toes: the two lateral ones are shorter than the three central ones, while between the central metatarsals there is a small distance.
The ears are 1/3 longer than the head. The incisors are thin and white and have a small premolar on either side of the upper jaw.
Possible threats to the survival of the species
As with many other wild animals, the greatest threat to the survival of the long-eared jerboa is man, who destroys its habitat. The advancement of grazing lands could pose a threat in some areas, as the species is thus exposed to a greater number of predators.
However, the long-eared jerboa are widely distributed throughout Asia. A general estimate of the number of specimens is not currently available, but the species is not at risk.
More curiosities about this rodent
The large ears of these animals are believed to be considered an evolutionary adaptation to the desert. In fact, the greater size of the ears allows the blood to cool down: in this way they disperse the heat caused by very high desert temperatures.
Long-eared jerboa also have a skin flap on the nose and hair on the ears to prevent sand from entering.
The long-eared jerboa communicates through vibrations and so-called dustbaths, which can be considered a type of chemical communication. This animal uses ultrasound to determine the location of its prey or predators. Owls are one of the most common predators.
