Gerbil
ExploreMammals
Gerbil
Meriones unguiculatus
Gerbils are small, social rodents that like to dig tunnels. They are quick movers and love to explore.
Habitat: Indoor tanks or cages with deep bedding for digging.
Appearance
The Gerbil has a compact body with soft, sandy-brown fur, a creamy white belly, and large dark eyes. Its long, furry tail, often tipped with a tuft of darker hair, helps it balance, and its small round ears sit atop its head, making it look different from chunkier hamsters.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderRodentiaFamilyMuridaeGenusGerbillinae
Category
MammalsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Baby gerbils are born completely blind, deaf, and hairless, relying on their mom.
Gerbils can leap over 30 centimeters (a foot!) high to escape danger!
In the wild, groups of gerbils create huge underground tunnel systems, like cities!
Their super sense of smell helps them find buried food and recognize their family.
Special abilities
Ability
Burrow Builder
Gerbil can dig extensive burrow systems with its strong claws to create safe homes, store food, and escape extreme temperatures.
Ability
Water Saver
Gerbil has specialized kidneys that help it conserve water by producing very concentrated urine, allowing it to survive in dry environments.
Ability
Warning Thump
Gerbil can thump its hind feet and tail on the ground to warn others of danger or mark its territory.
Ability
Food Stasher
Gerbil can collect and store seeds and other food in its burrows, ensuring it has enough to eat when food is scarce.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10-14 cm
- Weight
- 0.05-0.13 kg
- Lifespan
- 2-5 years
- Top Speed
- 20 km/h
- Litter Size
- 3-7
- Gestation
- 24-26 days
Watch
Diet & Feeding
Gerbils munch on plants and seeds, but will sometimes snack on insects too!
Primary Foods
- Seeds
- Grasses
- Roots
- Leaves
- Insects
- Nuts
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Fennec Fox
Vulpes zerda
A desert fox that hunts small rodents and other desert animals.
eaten by
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Bubo bubo
A large owl that preys on various small mammals, including gerbils.
eaten by
Desert Horned Viper
Cerastes cerastes
A venomous snake that ambushes rodents in sandy desert environments.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Furry
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Burrowing
Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Domesticated
Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be gentle — sudden movements can scare them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Gerbil?
10-14 cm
How much does Gerbil weigh?
0.05-0.13 kg
How long does Gerbil live?
2-5 years
How fast can Gerbil move?
20 km/h
What does Gerbil eat?
Gerbils munch on plants and seeds, but will sometimes snack on insects too!
Where is Gerbil usually found?
Indoor tanks or cages with deep bedding for digging.
How does Gerbil hunt?
Foraging
How many babies does Gerbil usually have?
3-7
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