# Atlas Gundi (*Ctenodactylus gundi*) The Atlas Gundi is a small, fluffy rodent that loves to hop around rocky areas. They have big ears and a cute face, making them fun to watch as they explore their home! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Atlas Gundi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gundi_Ctenodactylus_gundi_051117_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gundi_Ctenodactylus_gundi_051117_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Atlas Gundi is a small, rodent-like mammal with soft, sandy-colored to reddish-brown fur, large dark eyes, and prominent rounded ears. It has short limbs, a very short tail, and distinct comb-like bristles on its hind feet for grooming. This coloration helps it blend seamlessly with rocky desert habitats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Ctenodactylidae - **Genus:** Ctenodactylus ## Interesting facts - Gundis alert their group to danger with sharp alarm calls! - Gundis don't build nests; they live inside natural rock cracks! - Their babies are born with open eyes and fur, ready to explore! - They spend a lot of time sunbathing to warm up their bodies! ## Special abilities - **Comb Feet Grooming:** Atlas Gundi has stiff, comb-like bristles on its hind feet that help them groom their fur and keep clean in dusty environments. - **Sun Basking Regulation:** Atlas Gundi can control its body temperature by basking in the sun and retreating into cool crevices, which helps them survive extreme desert heat. - **Precocial Young:** Atlas Gundi mothers give birth to incredibly well-developed babies that can see and move shortly after birth, helping them avoid predators quickly. - **Water From Plants:** Atlas Gundi can get all the water it needs from the plants it eats, which helps them thrive in dry, arid desert environments. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 16-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.17-0.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 50-70 days ## Diet & Feeding A plant-eating mammal that gets all its water from juicy desert plants. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, succulent plants - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — A primary avian predator hunting from above. - **Eaten by:** Rüppell's Fox (*Vulpes rueppellii*) — A desert fox that preys on gundis on the ground. - **Eaten by:** Montpellier Snake (*Malpolon monspessulanus*) — A large snake that hunts gundis in rocky crevices. - **Eats:** Caper Bush (*Capparis spinosa*) — A desert plant whose leaves and shoots are a food source. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch animals from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Atlas Gundi? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Atlas Gundi? 16-20 cm ### How much does Atlas Gundi weigh? 0.17-0.3 kg ### How long does Atlas Gundi live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Atlas Gundi move? 20 km/h ### What does Atlas Gundi eat? A plant-eating mammal that gets all its water from juicy desert plants. ### Where is Atlas Gundi usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Atlas Gundi hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Tierpark & Kloster Riesa](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-riesa) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo - [Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum Düsseldorf](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aquazoo-lobbecke-museum-dusseldorf) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Aquarium ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Atlas Gundi: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlas-gundi)