Northern Small Five-toed Jerboa

About this species

Habitat

Rocky and clay deserts and semi-deserts of Asia

The northern small five-toed jerboa has the classic jerboa silhouette: very long hind feet for hopping, short forelimbs used like hands, a compact body, and a balancing tail. Five digits on each hind foot distinguish its group from three-toed jerboas, although that detail is rarely visible on a moving animal. It travels upright on its hind legs and can make rapid changes of direction. The opened account supplies no secure species-specific measurements, so dimensions from other jerboas are not substituted. (Wikipedia, small five-toed jerboa account)

This is a nocturnal rodent of Asian rocky and clay deserts and semi-deserts. It spends the day below ground, where a burrow moderates heat and cold, then emerges to forage after dark. The forefeet manipulate food and groom the coat, while the greatly enlarged hind limbs provide fast saltatory movement across open ground. Mongolia is confirmed by the Mammal Diversity Database, but the general account does not name a Mongolian locality or country-specific season. Any observation should avoid trampling or opening occupied burrows. (Wikipedia, small five-toed jerboa account; Mammal Diversity Database, Mongolia country list)

Description: Wildlife of Mongolia guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)