Mongolian Three-toed Jerboa

About this species

Size

Body about 11.3–13 cm; tail longer than body

Weight

About 60 g

Diet

Green plant parts, roots and seeds

Habitat

Arid steppe, grassland, dunes and open forest

The Mongolian three-toed jerboa, also known as Andrews's three-toed jerboa, has a body about 11.3–13 centimetres long, a longer tail and a weight near 60 grams. Buff-grey fur covers the body, while the crown is greyer and carries white marks above the eye and behind the ear. A white band crosses the hips and the underparts are white. The hind foot has an elongated central toe with a hairy sole, and the fat-thickened tail ends in a flattened black tuft. (Wikipedia, Andrews's three-toed jerboa account)

This Mongolia-and-China species inhabits semi-arid and arid steppe, grassland and scrub-covered sand dunes, and can also occur in coniferous or mixed forest with undergrowth. It is nocturnal and solitary, leaving shelter after dark to feed on green plant parts, roots and seeds. Females generally produce one litter of two to four young during the year. The species-level account supports these broad habitat and behaviour notes but does not identify a specific Mongolian reserve or dependable viewing season. (Wikipedia, Andrews's three-toed jerboa account)

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