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The gerbil is a miniature friend. Gerbil - how to properly care for a rodent at home It is known that the common gerbil is a small rodent that feeds

The Mongolian gerbil is a small rodent. They are kept as pets at home, in kindergartens, school zoos and youth clubs. They are small, but bigger than mice and hamsters. Unlike mice and rats, gerbils have a tail completely covered with short hair, with a tassel of longer hair at the end. Thanks to selective breeding, gerbils are now available in a wide variety of colors. Gerbils are very clean, inquisitive, sociable and friendly. They bring great joy to their existence.

About the breed

It is very easy to confuse the gerbil with its closest relative, the rat. Indeed, these rodents are incredibly similar. However, gerbils are usually smaller than rats in both size and weight. The tail of these animals differs from that of a rat in that it is completely covered with fur and ends in long hairs forming a panicle. The gerbil is very fond of keeping at home and in various living places, because it is easily tamed, almost does not smell and, on the whole, is quite clean and, of course, quickly makes contact with people. Such popularity eventually led to the conscious selection of gerbils. Today you can observe completely different colors of these rodents. In the nurseries of Russia, for example, the most common species is the Mongolian gerbil - an animal, judging by the name, that lives in the Mongolian steppes and semi-deserts.

Title in other languages

Gerbillinae is the common Latin name for the gerbil genus,
Meriones unguiculatus - lat. species of clawed gerbil,
Gerbille, gerbil - eng. gerbil,
Sandaal - German gerbil.

Classification

Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordates
Subtype: Vertebrates
Class: Mammals
Infraclass: Placental
Order: Rodents
Family: Mouse
Subfamily: Gerbils
There are 14 genera of gerbils
About 110 species are known

habitation

The gerbil, like some other species of rodents, has a name that speaks volumes. This animal inhabits the desert or semi-desert territories of Africa and Asia. In particular, in Central Asia it can be found in the Turkmen and Kazakh republics. The distribution range of the rodent covers some islands of the Mediterranean Sea and extends to Transbaikalia itself. Other countries in which gerbils live are India, Iran, Mongolia and the northwestern regions of China. However, it is wrong to assume that the gerbil lives in the bare desert sands. This rodent prefers areas with sandy, clay and gravel soils, but not devoid of vegetation, because the gerbil needs food. By the way, in some Asian countries, for example, Turkmenistan, there are an incredible number of gerbils - up to a thousand minks per 1 hectare of land. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine this rodent without its native mink, or rather, without several minks that are connected by many passages, since gerbils live in colonies in the wild. The depth of one such mink can be up to 3 meters, and several generations of gerbils can dig one system of holes. As a result, the labyrinth of their habitat is able to spread to 300 meters.

Description

To understand what a gerbil looks like, just imagine a small mouse, but with slightly shorter ears. These rodents sometimes grow up to 20 cm, and can be quite small - only 5 cm. The average weight of a gerbil is 100-200 grams, and very small representatives do not exceed 15 grams. A distinctive feature of the gerbil has already been mentioned - it is a tail pubescent along the entire length with a tassel at the end. The muzzle, depending on the species, is sharp or blunt. And the color characteristic of the gerbil is also contained in its name. The coat of this rodent, which lives in the wild, is usually brownish-sandy or brown in color - this is also its disguise in the sands. The dental system of different types of gerbils is different. The standard number of teeth is 16, molars are more often with roots, but they are also found without roots. Since this small animal is generally defenseless against stronger animals, nature has endowed it with sharp eyesight, hearing, quick reactions and elongated hind legs to move faster. In the daytime, gerbils are active all year round, but with the advent of winter they can fall into a stupor.

Nutrition

Living in the wild, in an area where vegetation is usually sparse, the gerbil feeds on all possible plants and shrubs within reach. And for the winter, the rodent even prepares food supplies, for example, from camel thorn or twigs of a saxaul desert inhabitant and other desert plants. In search of food, gerbils can even emigrate in whole colonies to settle in new places. And if such a detachment finds other people's minks, he can easily adapt them to his own housing.
The gerbil home menu is also a fairly simple rodent mix plus vegetables and some fruit, but only non-acidic and unsweetened. Protein is also useful for gerbils, so occasionally it is recommended to feed them with a boiled egg. But you can not put a drinker for these animals at all, since, accustomed to the desert climate, they receive the necessary supply of moisture from vegetables and fruits.

reproduction

A female gerbil is capable of giving birth 4 to 7 times a year. The average number of “mice” in a litter is 5-6 individuals. The mother bears them for almost a month, and after two months each little gerbil becomes sexually mature. But these babies have a very short life span, they live only 3-4 months in the wild.
In Mongolian gerbils, behavior during the reproductive period is particularly interesting. Usually they gather in a small colony - for one male 1-3 females and their not fully matured offspring. Each such flock carefully guards its territory, not letting other gerbils into it and even sometimes arranging bloodless exemplary fights. Therefore, at home, it is not recommended to keep more than 2 gerbils of different sexes in one cage, as they can begin to divide the space more bloodthirsty.
In nature, the whole colony together can care for a common brood, even males.

Content

The gerbil is perhaps one of the most mobile and active rodents, and this should definitely be remembered when starting it at home. The animal needs a spacious cage with a thick layer of hay or straw (15-20 cm) so that the gerbil can dig. If the cage is slatted, then it is better to purchase it with a pallet, since an active rodent tends to accidentally spread the litter. It is a good idea to place a container of sand in the cage for gerbils - they can use it as a toilet or for taking sand baths. But you should not choose a dwelling for a rodent with several floors or make high shelves in it, while climbing a fragile animal can fall and be injured. To apply energy to a gerbil, you can put a wheel in a cage. But it is not a fact that this will be enough for an active rodent. This means that it must be let out to run, but only under supervision and in a room where there are no places that are hard to reach for humans - gerbils love to build nests in them. And in general, the stronger the gerbil's dwelling, the better, because this little animal, inclined to constantly gnaw something, can one day reach its own cage.

You can buy gerbil from 200 rubles.

If you really want to have a pet, but are afraid of the responsibility that will fall on your shoulders, then get a small and unpretentious animal - a gerbil. But first, learn how to care for her.

What is this animal?

The gerbil is a small rodent that looks like a rat. Basically, it's a cute house mouse. The body length of an adult animal can vary from 5 to 20 centimeters. The length of the tail is usually 6-24 centimeters, at the end of it there may be a small tassel.

The muzzle of the gerbil is pointed, the auricles are small but well developed, the eyes are rather large and protruding. The color on the back is darker and can vary from gray to brown. The abdomen is usually light. There may be light spots on the head. The hind legs are more developed than the front ones, so sometimes these rodents move on them.

Gerbils are ubiquitous. They are found in semi-deserts, deserts and steppes. Such animals can be found in Asia, Africa, China, Mongolia, as well as in the regions of Transbaikalia, Kazakhstan and Ciscaucasia.

The life expectancy of a gerbil at home ranges from two to three years. And in the natural environment, such rodents usually live no more than six months.

Lifestyle

Gerbils are burrowing animals. But they all lead a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle, and climb into holes only when necessary. Most of these rodents form colonies. Many gerbils are diurnal animals, meaning they are active during the day. But they can't sleep at night either.

At the same time, gerbils do not fall into hibernation, in winter they continue to live their usual lives, but in severe frosts they can plunge into a state of stupor.

In the wild, these rodents feed on plants as well as various seeds. Gerbils are very thrifty, sometimes the food supply in the hole by weight reaches 60 kilograms!

It is worth noting that gerbils have a special gland in the abdomen, which is used to mark the territory. But the smell of the secreted liquid is not sharp and almost imperceptible, so gerbils cannot be called bad-smelling animals.

These rodents are very active. They are constantly digging, nibbling, looking for, storing and so on. And if the rodent does not have the opportunity to do all this, then he can get sick and even die. Consider this and by all means provide your pet with all the conditions necessary for a full life.

Although gerbils are relatively unpretentious animals, still providing optimal living conditions will prolong the life of the pet and make it healthy and active. Let's list a few key points.

One or two gerbils?

The gerbil is a rodent that needs constant communication, so it's best to get a pair at once. But remember that unfamiliar rodents can fight, so at first, keep a close eye on them.

The optimum air temperature is 20-25 degrees. In any case, it should not fall below 15 degrees, in a cool place the rodent will be less active. Gerbils do not tolerate moisture, so the room must be dry. Do not place your pet's home in drafts, near air conditioners or heaters.

Housing

The best housing for such a rodent will be a cage with metal bars. But remember that the gap between the bars must be small, otherwise the pet may escape or get seriously injured. Also, choose a deep-bottomed cage.

Instead of a cage, you can also use an aquarium, but always with a breathable lid (a gerbil can jump out and travel around the house, which can be unsafe). In any case, housing should be quite spacious, otherwise the animal will feel cramped.

Home Improvement

How to properly care for a gerbil rodent? It is extremely important to properly equip her housing. Be sure to pour a fairly large (about 10 centimeters) layer of sawdust into the cage tray, their pet will dig. But such a rodent also needs sand, so pour it into a small bath and place it in the corner of the cage so that the gerbil bathes and cleans its coat.

You can put a house in a cage in which the rodent will hide. But remember that it will have to be changed, as the gerbil will periodically gnaw and destroy its homes. Instead of a house, a pet can use a nest. Hay is most often used to create it, so be sure to put it in a cage.

Since gerbils need to grind down their teeth, offer them twigs, tree bark. Otherwise, the pet will use the cage for grinding and damage the teeth or soft tissues.

Since these rodents do not tolerate moisture, the sawdust must remain dry. That is why you should purchase a special non-spillable drinker for rodents. And be sure to keep the water clean! It is best to hang the feeder or place it on the second floor of the cage, otherwise the pet will constantly turn it over or bury food, making supplies.

The sawdust in the cage should be changed regularly, but not too often. 1 time in two weeks is enough.

Since gerbils are active and like to move a lot, either periodically let them out of the cage, or place a special wheel in the dwelling (preferably metal and mesh).

Be sure to offer your little pet toys. These can be cardboard boxes, toilet paper sleeves, baskets, and so on. Games have a positive effect on the mental development of gerbils, so they are necessary.

Nutrition

What to feed a gerbil? The diet should be quite varied. Its main part will be made up of grain mixtures. Also, be sure to give your pet vegetables (carrots, lettuce,), fruits (apples, bananas). You can buy a special ready-made food at the pet store.

If you prefer natural nutrition, then by all means give the rodent vitamins. To avoid a lack of salt, attach a mineral-salt stone to the bars of the cage or hang it on a wire (it can be purchased at a specialized store).

reproduction

Puberty occurs in gerbils at the age of 3-4 months. One female can bring from 1 to 10 litters per year. In one litter, as a rule, 5-6 cubs. They are born naked and blind and become independent only after a month. The duration of pregnancy is 3-5 weeks. The lactation period lasts approximately three weeks.

Possible problems

Gerbils practically do not get sick, but still some problems can arise. Among them are loss of the tail, swelling of the secreting gland, diseases of the ears, digestive disorders, diseases of the teeth, eyes, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, as well as injuries.

Taming

It is better to tame a pet from a very early age (from about three weeks). First, feed him with your hand, pet him, talk to him, be around more often. Then pick up the animal. As a rule, gerbils are non-aggressive and do not bite for no reason.

Let your pet be healthy and active!

The most vulnerable spot of this cute mouse is the tail. In nature, the gerbil loses it when attacked by predators, in captivity - due to rough human touches.

Description, appearance

Gerbillinae (gerbils / gerbils) are a family of mice from a large detachment of rodents. Gerbils are quite different (including the brightness of sexual characteristics), which is determined by belonging to a particular species. Outwardly, they resemble a cross between a mouse, a jerboa and a squirrel. Height fluctuates in the range of 5–20 cm, weight in the range of 10–230 g, tail length is 5.5–24 cm. Males are usually larger than females.

It is interesting! Densely pubescent tail turns into a brush at the end. A damaged or fallen tail is not restored again. The gerbil has elongated hind limbs in common with the jerboa: however, in the latter they are still not so impressive.

All types of gerbils are endowed with a modest camouflage coloration - brownish / ocher-sandy top and light bottom. Often light markings are also observed on the head: around the eyes and behind the auricles. On a blunt or pointed muzzle, large bulging eyes are noticeable. Most gerbils have 16 teeth that grow throughout their lives. In the course of evolution, both vision and hearing have become extraordinarily acute in the gerbil.

Gerbil mouse species

So far, 110 species of gerbils have been described, grouped into 14 genera. Almost a third (35 species) are on the pages of the International Red Book. One species is considered critically endangered, and 4 species are classified as endangered:

Meriones dahli;
Meriones arimalius;
Meriones zarudnyi;
Meriones sacramenti.

Representatives of the genus Meriones (small gerbils), including Meriones meridianus (midday gerbils), live in the post-Soviet space.

Range, habitats

Gerbils live in Mongolia, North Africa, India, Asia Minor / Asia Minor and China (with the exception of its eastern and southern regions).

Gerbils are also found in the northeast of Ciscaucasia, in Kazakhstan, in the regions of Transbaikalia and on individual islands in the southeastern zone of the Mediterranean Sea. Animals have perfectly adapted to the conditions of existence in an arid climate, inhabiting semi-deserts, steppes and deserts.

Lovers of decorative rodents, as a rule, give birth to Mongolian gerbils, which grow up to 12 cm (with an average weight of 75–120 g) and live up to 3–5 years. Gerbils need companions, so they are rarely kept alone, but more often in pairs and sometimes in large families.

Cage preparation, filling

An aquarium/terrarium (minimum 10 liters) is more suitable for keeping gerbils than a cage, even the most comfortable one. Solid walls will serve as soundproofing from the noises made by overly fussy pets, and at the same time protect from the debris they scatter. If you still place gerbils in a cage (necessarily steel), provide it with a pallet with high sides so that the sawdust does not fly around the apartment: rodents need a layer of at least 15–20 cm for active digging.

It is necessary to ensure the flow of fresh air, especially in the heat, and for a low capacity, provide a lid, since gerbils are very jumpy. Sheer sunlight should not fall on the housing of rodents. To grind the incisors, you will need snags, branches or cardboard. At the bottom, instead of sawdust, you can use hay / straw, and give the mice paper for the nest. A small box, for example, from under shoes, where gerbils will rest or hide from prying eyes, will also come in handy.

It is interesting! Gerbils don't drink, so they don't need drinkers. Moreover, high humidity is contraindicated for them. In nature, animals are content with moisture from succulent plants and their seeds.

This active mouse needs toys, ladders and wheels. True, instead of a wheel with crossbars, it is better to take a special rotating ball (to avoid tail injuries). Occasionally, a pet is released to run around the room, but only under supervision.

Diet, diet

Gerbils are fed three times a week, laying out food directly on the litter. The feeding rate is determined by the type, size, physiology and well-being of the rodent. Smaller animals, paradoxically, need (due to faster metabolism) more food per unit of weight. Juicy fruits are given in such portions that the mice eat them without a trace, and excess dampness is not observed in the cage. Fresh fruits are replaced with soaked dried fruits, and boiled eggs are crushed together with the shell, adding to grain feed.

The diet combines plant and animal ingredients, such as:

grass (summer);
carrots, beets, pumpkin and apple;
banana, grapes, watermelon (a little so as not to spoil);
oats and sunflower (dosed);
boiled eggs and cottage cheese;
fresh branches with swollen buds;
white crackers and live crickets.

The source of calcium, in addition to eggshells, is bone meal or chalk. Young gerbils grind off rock salt-lick (a storehouse of microelements) with pleasure.

Animal proteins are more often needed by breeding males, pregnant/lactating females, and young gerbils.

Diseases, breed defects

It is believed that gerbils from birth have good health, but are prone, like any domestic rodents, to some typical ailments. The most common ailments include:

exposure of the tail bone (after injury);
swelling of the subcaudal gland (in older males);
growths / wounds on the ears and cyst of the inner ear;
anomalies of the incisors requiring their cutting;
allergic inflammation of the nose (due to coniferous sawdust);
eye injury (due to a foreign body);
clouding of the lens (not treated).

It happens that gerbils also have diarrhea, which is eliminated with the help of sulfonamides / antibiotics, not forgetting to feed the patient with probiotics (bifidumbacterin or bifitrilac). To prevent dehydration, saline or Ringer-Locke solution is injected subcutaneously.

Important! Hoarse breathing indicates a cold or other respiratory disease, which is treated with chlortertacycline or Baytril. In old mice, heart attacks/strokes are observed, accompanied by paralysis and weakness. Often the attacks end in the death of the pet.

Gerbils break not only the tail, but also the limbs, which, however, grow together well for about two weeks. The danger lurks in open fractures when an infection enters the wound. Taking vitamin supplements and chalk (mineral blocks) can help prevent fractures.

Care and hygiene

Gerbils do not tolerate water and any hygienic manipulations associated with it, but periodically take sand baths. They are needed to keep the fur clean: a container of sand is placed in the aquarium once a week.

It is interesting! Gerbils have highly concentrated urine, due to which there is almost no specific smell in the cell (less than 4 g of fluid leaves the body per day).

Half-eaten food is removed daily, and a thorough cleaning of the cage is carried out once a week. Use sawdust (not coniferous!) or a mixture of them with hay as bedding. The filler is changed every 14 days.

Reproduction and offspring

To begin with, decide where and to whom you will sell the young, and only after that do the mating of gerbils. When breeding, consider several requirements for animals:

uniform age (optimally older than 3 months);
exterior, including color;
pedigree;
previously brought offspring;
affiliation of producers to unrelated families.

The last point is easier to accomplish if you purchase gerbils from different breeders: this guarantees the absence of closely related mating, which means healthy offspring. A couple is brought together on neutral or "male" territory: the result of a successful sexual intercourse is a pregnancy lasting 25 days. The female brings 2–8 (sometimes more) cubs, after which she is able to conceive again. That is why it is better to remove the male immediately.

A mother can eat stunted newborns and this is normal. The brood should not be touched by hand. It is also recommended (during the period of breastfeeding) not to clean the cage, so as not to disturb the female. Under her care, mice are up to 1.5 months of age, but from about 3 weeks they are already gradually picked up. By the way, the degree of trust of their parents in you is considered the key to the rapid domestication of babies.

Surely not all owners of gerbils know how to feed them properly. Gerbils are desert dwellers, so their diet consists of seeds and grass. You can only give these foods, but there are additional foods that your gerbil will enjoy.

In nature, the diet of these animals is rather modest: gerbils feed on any dry grass and seeds that they manage to get. But at home, the diet can be diversified with various products.

The ideal solution is a dry mix of seeds, oats, wheat and barley. Such mixtures are sold ready-made in pet stores.

If you can't find food specifically for gerbils, you can purchase food for hamsters. But from such a mixture, you will have to choose peanuts and sunflower seeds, since a large amount of fat for a gerbil is harmful.

The gerbil is a small hand mouse.

Gerbils are also suitable for parrot mixes. In addition, they can be given fresh vegetables and fruits. Some rodents even love dry cat and dog food. You can try to offer your pet different types of food and stop at the one that suits him.

Finding out what your gerbil likes is not difficult, she will decide on her own preferences. But it is not recommended to give gerbils one type of food. Gerbils, like all animals, need a balanced diet to keep them fit.

The feeding process is the best moment to establish a trusting relationship with the animal, if you feed the gerbil from your hands, then it will get used to you faster. Give your gerbil a choice of different types of food, and she will choose what she likes best.

How to feed a gerbil

Feeding time

Food is recommended to be poured into a bowl, but these animals like to stock up and hide food in different places, so you can scatter food around the cage. The animal will eat part of the food immediately, and save something for later. The gerbil should be fed in a clean cage. If the animal eats in the mud, it will get sick.

What to give a gerbil

The basis of the diet should be dry food, but it can be varied with a small amount of vegetables and fruits. Different animals prefer different types of fruits and vegetables, so you have to experiment. Some gerbils like apples, grapes, and pears, while others like cabbages and carrots. Don't give your gerbil food that you wouldn't eat yourself.

goodies

These animals are very fond of seeds, but they cannot eat a lot of them. The animal must be controlled according to its needs. Sunflower seeds can be given to gerbils, but occasionally. You can feed her parrot food or millet sprouts. Gerbils love small seeds, besides, they contain oils that have a beneficial effect on the coat of the animal.

Respect the choice of the pet, if he does not like the food, you should not give it by force.

Water in a bowl

It is not recommended to put a bowl of water on a gerbil. The gerbil will bury the bowl and spread the dirt all over the cage without having fresh water. Hang a drinking bottle in the shape of a bottle on the cage. It will be convenient and hygienic option. The water container must be hung so that the animal can easily drink.

Important rules for feeding gerbils

The gerbil is a cute animal.

Food must be washed. Vegetables and fruits must be washed before giving the animal, as their peel may contain pesticides that are dangerous to the health of the gerbil. Excess food should be removed immediately, otherwise the animal will bury it, and it will disappear.

Do not feed your pet junk food. In principle, anything you can eat will not harm a gerbil. But it is not recommended to feed her with lettuce, beans and legumes, since they do not contain substances useful for the pet.

Gerbils (Gerbillinae) are a special group of rodents that look similar to each other. The family contains 13–15 genera and about 80 species, which are grouped into two subfamilies. Within each genus, the differences are very slight, and, as a rule, appear in the features of coloring, the length of the tail and the tassel on it. Therefore, it is not entirely clear how many species of gerbils exist. Among all representatives of the vast family, the clawed gerbil is the most famous. This is a cute animal with large dark eyes, a white belly and a fluffy tail with a tassel at the end. It is the clawed (Mongolian) gerbil that is most often kept as a pet. You can read about keeping gerbils at home. In the same article, we will talk about the lifestyle of gerbils in their natural habitat.

The habitat of gerbils covers Africa, southern Asia from the Arabian Peninsula to Hindustan and Sri Lanka, Central and Central Asia. Most animals live in an extreme environment - deserts and semi-deserts. Some are found among xerophytic savannah forests. The mountains can rise to a height of 3000 meters above sea level.

Description, lifestyle of gerbils

Gerbils are medium-sized animals, body length, depending on the species, ranges from 6-7 (pygmy gerbil) to 18-21 cm (Indian gerbil), tail - from 7 to 20 cm. Rodents weigh from 10 to 190 grams. The slender hind legs are longer than the front. The tail is often longer than the body, well pubescent, usually with a brush of elongated hair at the end. The eyes are large, located high on the head, which increases the field of view. The ears are small, in some species even smaller than those of mice.

Note the greatly enlarged middle ear. This feature increases the sensitivity of the animal to low-frequency sounds, for example, to the rustle of owl wings.

The coloration of the back is dominated by sandy or brownish tones, the belly is lighter, white or yellowish. The coat color of gerbils, even of the same species, but from different habitats, may vary. Animals living on a dark clay substrate are most often dark brown, and reddish on yellow sand. Only a dark tassel on the tail somewhat breaks the camouflage coloration. However, this feature plays an important role: the tassel performs a signaling function, taking part in communications.

Most gerbils live in harsh desert conditions, where during the day the air warms up to 50 ° C. Therefore, the animals have to be nocturnal, during the day they hide from the heat in underground burrows, usually plugging the inlet. In a hole, at a depth of half a meter, the temperature does not exceed 20-25 ° C. Only in the northern deserts are some gerbils active during the day.

What do gerbils eat?

The main role in the diet of gerbils is played by various parts of plants - leaves, seeds, fruits, roots and root crops. But many species eat any available food: insects, lizards, snails and even small rodents. In desert conditions, dry seeds and grasses are often the only food. Gerbils living in the arid regions of South Africa often specialize in insects.

Some species prefer certain types of food. For example, a diurnal gerbil can only be found where succulents grow with brackish juice. The Indian gerbil is year-round dependent on fresh greenery and nests near irrigation systems. Wagner gerbils are very fond of snails, and it is not uncommon to see whole piles of empty shells near their holes.

At night, when the plants are covered with moisture, the animals collect them and drag them into their burrows to save precious water. The digestive system of these rodents extracts the maximum liquid from food, and the kidneys excrete only droplets of highly concentrated urine.

Gerbils living in regions with cold winters store food for the winter. In some species, supplies can reach 20 or more kilograms!

Family relationships

Rodents living in deserts are usually solitary, however, their complex burrows are located so close to each other that they resemble colonies. Since food sources are rather scarce in desert conditions, each animal grazes on its own. Species that live where food is plentiful are more sociable. They live in pairs and sometimes form family settlements. Species such as the Greater Gerbil, Lesser Gerbil, Daytime Gerbil, Przewalski's Gerbil, Fluffy Tailed Gerbil form extensive colonies with an extensive system of communicating burrows, in which it is easier to keep warm and store food.

The breeding season for most gerbils is related to climatic features. For example, the inhabitants of the savannas breed at the end of the rainy season. Animals living in those places where food is abundant, breed all year round, bringing 2-3 litters during the year. Desert rodents breed during the cooler months, however South African gerbils can breed all year round.

Pregnancy lasts 21-28 days. The number of cubs in a litter in different species varies from 1 to 12, on average 3-5 babies are born. They are born helpless, naked, blind and unable to maintain the desired body temperature. For two weeks, babies are entirely dependent on the constant care of the mother. If the cubs are born at the beginning of the breeding season, they have time to reach sexual maturity by its end and already take part in it at the age of two months. Born later, they mature at the age of 6 months and start breeding for the next season.

Types and photos of gerbils

As already mentioned, there are more than 80 species in the family of gerbils (Gerbillidae). Let's consider some of the representatives of the family in more detail.

Gerbils pygmy

Dwarf gerbils (Gerbillus) are the most numerous genus in the family, with more than 30 species. Recently, it has been divided into 2-3 closely related genera.

The body length of pygmy gerbils is only 6-13 cm, the physique is light and graceful. The tail is usually with a small terminal brush of sparse fluffy hair. The coloration of the upper body is often dull, sandy. The foot is narrow, often elongated; in psammophilic forms, the toes are trimmed with coarse white hair, which increases the area of support. Auditory drums are medium for a family of sizes.

The habitat of this genus covers almost the entire Sahara and the Mediterranean plains in Africa. In Asia, they are found from Arabia through the southern regions of Western Asia to the Thar Desert in India.

Egyptian gerbil

Egyptian gerbil (Gerbillus pyramidum) is common in northern Africa. Inhabits various sandy lands - both vast sandy massifs in area, and small patches of sand on clayey or solonchak spaces of coastal plains. It is also found in oases, often settles in adobe houses. In the photo, the Egyptian gerbil at the entrance to the hole.

The body length of the Egyptian gerbil is 9–13 cm, the tail is up to 18 cm.

This gerbil prefers to live alone, although several individuals usually keep nearby. Individual plots are very significant in area, up to 170 meters in diameter. Burrows have only 2-3 entrances, but a rather complex underground device.

The Egyptian gerbil is active at night, and during the day it hides in a hole, plugging the entrance to it with an earth plug.

It feeds on seeds, underground parts of plants, greenery, and arthropods.

Reproduction occurs from June to March and stops only in the hottest and driest season (March-May). There are usually 4 cubs in a brood.

small gerbils

Genus Small gerbils (Meriones illiger) - one of the most typical representatives of the family, belongs to the group of so-called "higher gerbils". Includes up to 16 species, divided into 3–4 subgenera.

The habitat covers the entire Palearctic desert belt - from the Atlas Mountains in northwestern Africa to the Gobi in Central Asia. Representatives of this genus inhabit semi-deserts and deserts of various types (mainly dense ground); in some places they keep close to human settlements.

The length of the body of the animals is 10–18 cm, the tail is 10–20 cm. The color of the upper body is from fawn-sandy to olive-brown, the abdomen is white, often with a red bloom, the brush on the tail is from ash-gray to black-brown.

Small gerbils are predominantly nocturnal, sometimes they are active during the day. They are territorial, live in small family colonies or singly, dig simple burrows.

Food is seeds and green parts of plants.

They breed in the warm season, bring up to 3 offspring per season, there are up to 12 cubs in a litter.

These rodents are numerous (with rare exceptions). They are of great epidemiological significance (especially where there is no large gerbil), participating in the maintenance of natural focal diseases. In Arab countries, some species are eaten.

The red-tailed gerbil (Meriones libycus) has the largest distribution area in the family. Its range covers the deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa, Front, Middle, Central Asia up to and including Xinjiang. It inhabits ephemeral and foothill semi-deserts, clayey and gravelly plains with loess soils in deserts. It occurs in the sands only during the years of a general increase in abundance and only in fixed massifs. In agricultural areas, it lives along canal embankments, irrigated fields, on alfalfa and grain crops, and is regularly found in human buildings.

The sizes are average: body length up to 17 cm, tail - up to 19 cm. The fur on the back is brownish-sandy, darker than in other species of the genus. The tail is approximately equal to the length of the body, sandy-red, sharply different in color from the top of the back, tassel of black-brown hair. Auditory drums are large.

The burrows of red-tailed gerbils are quite complex, having from 5 to 20 entrance holes located close to each other. Underground passages reach a depth of 1–1.2 m. In such a hole there are chambers with nests and supplies. This species willingly settles in non-residential burrows on colonies of the great gerbil.

In the warm part of the year, this species is active at night, in winter - most often during the day.

Reproduction usually occurs during the warm seasons of the year, lasts from February-March to October-November. In especially favorable years, it can breed all year round. During the breeding season, there are up to 3 litters, each with 2 to 12 cubs. Females born in the spring, in the same year, have time to bring up to 2 litters.

In the diet of the red-tailed gerbil, concentrated food plays the main role: seeds and bulbs, which make up more than 80% of the diet. It consumes the green parts of plants constantly, but mainly as a source of moisture. It also eats insects, especially in spring when seed food is in short supply. For the winter makes stocks weighing up to 9 kg. Damages crops of cereals and cotton.

Midday gerbil

The midday gerbil (Meriones meridianus) occupies a somewhat isolated position in the genus in terms of some morphological and ecological features. The form inhabiting the Transcaucasus has recently been isolated into a separate species - the Armenian gerbil (M. dahli).

It occurs from the Caspian Sea to Alashan and Inner Mongolia, south to the foothill plains of Northern Afghanistan and Central Iran. Prefers to live in sandy areas. Most often it can be found in places with thickets of shrubs, among which it digs holes.

This is the smallest representative of the genus: the body length does not exceed 15 cm. The color of the top is dull light sandy, but in some places there are darker colored (brownish or ash brownish) forms. The belly is pure white. The hair on the tail is thicker than in other species of the gerbil genus, but its terminal brush is poorly developed.

Coloniality in this species is more pronounced than in other lesser gerbils, especially in winter. The basis of the colony is formed by non-overlapping areas of females: they are more firmly attached to holes than males. The territory of the male captures several areas of the females. There are many potential shelters on an individual site, in one of which the animal hides for a day for at least several days or uses 3–4 holes alternately for this. The deepest wintering and brood burrows, they can go from the surface to a depth of 4 m. In winter, from 5 to 15 animals keep in such burrows. In summer, the animals are active mainly in the evening and at night. In the fall, when it is time to harvest food, they emerge from their burrows both day and night.

It feeds mainly on seeds throughout the year. Wormwood is the main food value for this species.

The breeding season lasts from mid-March to early October, during which time only some old females can bring up to three broods, while most manage to bring only one litter. There are usually only 5-6 cubs in the litter, which at the age of one month already start an independent life.

gerbil

The clawed or Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is similar in appearance to the midday gerbil, from which it differs in a somewhat larger size, a well-developed tassel of gray-brown hair at the end of the tail. The belly of a "dirty" shade due to the fact that the hair has dark bases. The claws are black, elongated (hence its name).

It is found in central and northern Mongolia, in the north and northeast of China, as well as in Transbaikalia and Tuva. Inhabits sandy plains, open and wooded savannahs.

The clawed gerbil lives in social groups that reach their maximum size in summer. The group consists of 1-3 adult males and 2-7 adult females and numerous young of different generations. They all live in a common burrow system. Their shelters are numerous and varied in size and complexity of the device. Rodents collect food together for the winter, and in cold weather they huddle in a common heap in the nesting chamber. The unity of the group is maintained by all its members, and outsiders are expelled without regret.

Clawed gerbils are active both during the day (mainly) and at night. In winter, activity is reduced, rodents emerge from their burrows only on windless sunny days.

Breeding continues from January to September. During the year, females usually give 2 broods, some individuals bring a third. Young of early broods may breed in the same year. There are 4-5 babies in a brood.

Which of the adults in the group is the parent of all the offspring? This cannot be judged by the behavior of males and females, even if they keep in pairs. And if a group of relatives is constantly preserved, how can their crossing not cause serious genetic problems? The puzzles associated with the social life of these animals were recently solved by observing them in captivity. It turned out that communities remain stable and territorial, however, females in estrus leave their group and visit neighbors to mate there. Then they return to their hole and give birth to a new generation, which will be taken care of by all members of a large family.

This species feeds mainly on cereals, lilies and Compositae, and near the fields - cultivated plants. For the winter can store up to 20 kg of seeds.

In Transbaikalia and Tuva, the clawed gerbil is a serious pest of agricultural crops, especially cereals and alfalfa.

Gerbils large

Large gerbils (Rhombomys Wagner) is a monotypic genus, the most advanced in the structure of the dental system among gerbils: it is the only genus of the family with constant growth of molars. The body length of the animals is up to 20 cm, the tail is up to 16 cm. Their body is stocky, the legs are short. The coat is rather coarse, with a long awn. The coloration is sandy, the belly is only slightly lighter than the back.

Large gerbils are widespread in the flat and foothill loess and clayey deserts and semi-deserts of Kazakhstan, Middle, Western and Central Asia. These rodents are diurnal, highly colonial, with developed sound signaling. Their burrows are complex, with a high number they are combined into "towns" with many hundreds of passages.

The large gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) is the only member of the gerbil genus. The species inhabits almost all types of deserts with loess soil; avoids bare takyrs and solonchaks, gravelly plains, blowing sands, as well as areas with a high level of groundwater. Often they settle among artificial structures - dams, embankments of railways, etc. Such settlements stretch in a narrow strip for many kilometers and therefore are called "tape".

In the photo, a large gerbil in a “column” pose

Large gerbils are characterized by a family-group lifestyle. The family consists of a male, a female and their offspring of various generations. Complex family groups can also be formed, in which the male unites several females living in separate nesting burrows. Outside males are actively expelled by the owner of the site.

For the great gerbil, as for many diurnal colonial species in general, a developed sound signaling is characteristic, which serves mainly as a means of warning of danger. There are two types of signals - voice and the so-called subophony. In the first case, these are repeated jerky squeaks and whistles, reminiscent of bird chirping. In the second case, the rodent, having run into the hole, will sharply hit the ground with its feet, a booming sound, which is well heard from the outside, is carried far along the system of passages.

The diet of large gerbils during the warm season consists mainly of leaves. In autumn and winter, mainly branches and bark of shrubs are used. Vegetative parts of plants are stored for the winter, laying them in special chambers. Stocks can reach 50kg.

Active great gerbil during the day. In summer, ground activity ceases when the air temperature is above 36 ° C. In winter, animals rarely leave their holes, especially in the zone of northern deserts, where snow cover lasts for several months.

The breeding season is mainly in the spring months. At this time, there are two successive broods. In summer, reproduction is sharply reduced. At the end of summer and autumn, when the heat subsides, the second breeding peak is observed. Usually 5-6 cubs are born.

Man and gerbil

Most gerbils live in deserted areas. Where they intersect with man, especially in the densely populated African savannas and Asian steppes, conflicts arise. In fact, these animals are pests, settling next to the fields and collecting their share of the crop. By burrowing, they damage dams, road embankments and even building foundations. Their settlements serve as reservoirs of dangerous diseases.

People poison gerbils with gases and chemicals, destroy their perennial settlements. In addition, they have long been used as laboratory animals, and in some places their tender meat is considered a delicacy. However, for some people, gerbils become pets. And if in nature the age of gerbils is only 1-2 years, then at home these animals can live up to 5 years.

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