# Jerboa (*Jaculus jaculus*) Jerboas are small, hopping mammals with big ears and long tails. They live in sandy deserts and move quickly to avoid predators. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Desert - **Also known as:** Desert Jerboa, Long-eared Jerboa ![Jerboa](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426039/objects/6179.jpg) ## Appearance The Jerboa has incredibly long hind legs and a very long tail tipped with a brush of fur, making it look like a tiny kangaroo. Its soft, sandy-brown fur blends perfectly with the desert, contrasting with its large eyes and ears. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Dipodidae - **Genus:** Jaculus ## Interesting facts - Jerboas rarely drink water, getting moisture from their food. - Some species even 'swim' through sand, disappearing fast. - Their soft fur helps them blend perfectly with desert sands. - They move like tiny kangaroos, hopping on two legs! ## Special abilities - **Super Jumper:** Jerboa can leap great distances because of its powerful hind legs, helping them escape predators. - **Sensitive Ears:** Jerboa has extremely large ears that help them detect predators and prey in the dark desert night. - **Desert Digger:** Jerboa can quickly dig intricate burrows because of strong claws, providing shelter from heat and predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-15 cm - **Weight:** 0.028-0.15 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Speed:** 24 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-6 - **Gestation:** 25-35 days ## Diet & Feeding Jerboas mostly munch on seeds, plants, and sometimes tiny insects found in the desert! - **Primary Foods:** Seeds, Roots, Leaves, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Fennec Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fennec-fox) (*Vulpes zerda*) — A primary desert predator - **Eaten by:** Pharaoh Eagle-Owl (*Bubo ascalaphus*) — Nocturnal bird of prey - **Eaten by:** Horned Viper (*Cerastes cerastes*) — Desert snake that ambushes prey - **Eats:** Common Wheat (*Triticum aestivum*) — Eats seeds from various desert plants - **Eats:** Harvester Termite (*Hodotermes mossambicus*) — Common insect prey in arid areas ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Steppe](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/steppe): This habitat trait describes species found in steppes, which are dry, treeless grasslands characterized by extreme seasonal temperature variations and low precipitation. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you ever see a jerboa in the wild, admire them from a distance to keep them safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Jerboa? 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 Jerboa? 5-15 cm ### How much does Jerboa weigh? 0.028-0.15 kg ### How long does Jerboa live? 3-6 years ### How fast can Jerboa move? 24 km/h ### What does Jerboa eat? Jerboas mostly munch on seeds, plants, and sometimes tiny insects found in the desert! ### Where is Jerboa usually found? Desert ### How does Jerboa hunt? Foraging ## 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: [Jerboa: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jerboa)