hey, im doing this for my research project. may i know what are the reasons to why the extinction of jerboas must be prevented? i mean every species is important, but what is the pressing reason behind it? thank you!
Order: Rodentia
Family: Dipodidae
The family Dipodidae (birch mice, jumping mice and jerboas) contains 51 living species in 16 genera. Species in this family are generally characterised by their remarkable adaptations for jumping, which are thought to have evolved as an anti-predator strategy. It is interesting to note that the unrelated hopping mice of Australia and the kangaroo rats of North America have evolved similar adaptations in response to similar environmental conditions (an example of convergent evolution). Dipodid fossils are known from the Oligocene (26-38 million years ago).
The long-eared jerboa is the only representative of the genus Euchoreutes.
Size: Head and body length: 70-90 mm
Tail length: 150-162 mm
Hind foot length: 40-46 mm
Tail length: 150-162 mm
Hind foot length: 40-46 mm
Weight: 23.7-37.8 g
Jerboas are small jumping rodents that resemble mice with long tufted tails and very long hindlegs. The long-eared jerboa can be distinguished from other jerboas by its enormous ears, which are about a third larger than the head. The fur is reddish yellow to pale russet above, rather than the sandy or buffy colour of most jerboas. The underparts are white. The tail is long and covered in short hairs that are the same colour as the body. There is a tuft of longer hairs at the end of the tail which are coloured white at the beginning, black in the middle of the tuft, and white again at the tip. Each hindfoot has five toes. The soles of the feet have tufts of stiff hairs which act as friction pads to support the animal on loose sand.
Very little is known of the ecology of this species. Other jerboas are primarily nocturnal, spending the hours of daylight in underground burrows, which they dig themselves. Most jerboa species are primarily herbivorous, eating seeds and succulent plants; however, the long-eared jerboa's diet is thought to consist primarily of insects. Studies carried out in the species' habitat during the early 1980s found an average of 0.5 individuals per hectare.
Inhabits desert habitats, favouring sandy river basins with low shrub cover.
Known from western Xinjiang (northwest China) and extreme southern Mongolia.
Unknown.
Classified as Endangered (EN A1c) on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The species is thought to be at risk from human disturbance of its habitat. Increasing numbers of grazing livestock may be a threat in some areas, along with drying of water sources and drought. It is unclear whether the latter are driven by human activities.
The species occurs in a number of protected areas, including the Little Gobi Strictly Protected Area in Borzongiin Gobi. However, no conservation measures aimed specifically at this species are currently underway.
This project supports in-country EDGE Fellows to help conserve relevant EDGE species
The survey is mainly focused on the long-eared jerboa.
This species was included in a Conservation Action Plan for Mongolian mammals in 2006. Recommendations included further ecological research to determine range, population trends and the impacts of threats, and further habitat protection and management within existing protected areas.
Jonathan is the Conservation Programmes Director at ZSL and manages the EDGE of Existence Project.
Jonathan has made several trips to Mongolia to set up local projects for the long-eared jerboa to survey its population and investigate the decline of its habitat and food sources.
Uuganbadrakh is an EDGE Fellow from Mongolia working to conserve the Long-eared jerboa
Baillie, J. 1996. Euchoreutes naso. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 09 August 2006.
Clark, E. L., Munkhbat, J., Dulamtseren, S., Baillie, J. E. M., Batsaikhan, N., Samiya, R. and Stubbe, M. (Compilers and Editors). 2006. Mongolian Red List of Mammals. Regional Red List Series Vol. 1. Zoological Society of London, London. (In English and Mongolian).
MacDonald, D. (ed.). 2002. The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press. Oxford.
Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.
Clark, E. L., Munkhbat, J., Dulamtseren, S., Baillie, J. E. M., Batsaikhan, N., Samiya, R. and Stubbe, M. (Compilers and Editors). 2006. Mongolian Red List of Mammals. Regional Red List Series Vol. 1. Zoological Society of London, London. (In English and Mongolian).
MacDonald, D. (ed.). 2002. The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press. Oxford.
Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.
if you can provide new information to update this species account or to correct any errors, please email us at info@edgeofexistence.org
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Our Mongolian EDGE Fellow Uuganbadrakh has just sent us some more information and photos that he has collected while studying the Long-eared jerboa in Mongol...
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30th Jan 08
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insane_bratz
MemberPosted 9 months ago # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredThey are sooo cute!!!! I did a speech on them for school ;)
Posted 10 months ago # -
Anonymous
Unregisteredthey are so adorable. im doing a project on them
Posted 10 months ago # -
If you read the information under 'Evolutionary Distinctiveness' it tells you about one adaptation the long-eared jerboa has - long legs.
If you are looking for more adaptations then just take a look at a photo of the species and think about what jumps out at your as looking unusual - I think everyone would agree the ears are the first thing! Lots of species living in hot environments, like the desert habitat of the jerboa, have large ears. This is because the large surface area helps them to keep cool in the hot weather. Elephants have big ears for the same reason.
Something else to think about is the colour of an animal - the long-eared jerboa lives in the desert, and you can see that its fur is almost the same colour as the sand - much better for hiding from predators than if it was a bright colour!
Posted 10 months ago # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredThey r soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute i am doing one for my science assignment can u tell me some adaptations of them
Posted 10 months ago # -
Anonymous
Unregisteredaw so cute adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 10 months ago # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredI need to know an adaptation of a "unique animal" for a science paper. I choose the long-eared jerboa and I can't find any. Please add so more info. Thx and they are SOOOOOOOO cute!!!! LOL. Thx again.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Anonymous
Unregisteredthis is a great web site i love it and u so seeya
Posted 10 months ago # -
Anonymous
Unregisteredso cute want one!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 10 months ago # -
Anonymous
Unregisteredlol i love these animals i want one soo bad plzz help them all
Posted 11 months ago #
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