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Gerbil
Gerbil Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Cnidaria |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Mammalia |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Rodentia |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Muridae |
| Genus: A group of animals within a family | Gerbillinae |
| Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Gerbillinae |
| Type: The animal group that the species belongs to | Mammal |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Omnivore |
| Size: How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 7-15cm (2.5-6in) |
| Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 56.6113g (2-4oz) |
| Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal | 6km/h (4mph) |
| Lifespan: How long the animal lives for | 3-5 years |
| Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable | Solitary |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Least Concern |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Brown, Grey, White, Black, Tan |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Fur |
| Favourite Food: The preferred food of this animal | Seeds |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Dry deserts |
| Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once | 8 |
| Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Seeds, Fruit, Nuts |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Birds, Snakes, Wildcats |
| Special Features: Characteristics unique to this animal | Small body and long detachable tail |
Gerbil Location
Gerbil
Gerbils are naturally found in the sandy plains of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The gerbil was originally known as a desert rat until they were commercially introduced to North America and bred as pets.The gerbil is a small rodent, similar in many ways to by the mouse and the hamster. Gerbils have a long tail like a mouse which the gerbil is able to shed should the tail get trapped. This self defense mechanism allows the gerbil to escape predators, leaving them with just a tail.
Gerbils have sharp claws which the gerbils use to burrow their way into the sandy grounds of the desert. The gerbils are also able to use these underground burrows to get away from danger by quickly disappearing under the sand.
There are thought to be more than 100 different species of gerbil that are found in the wild with the majority of these gerbil species being diurnal. However, many gerbils that are kept as pets live a more nocturnal lifestyle meaning that pet gerbils tend to be awake during night time hours more than day time hours.
Wild gerbils are well known for building extensive networks of tunnels that the gerbils are able to hide and breed in. The gerbil only really comes to the surface of the ground when the gerbil needs to find food and water.
The long and releasable tail of the gerbil is around the same length as the gerbils body, but it appears to depend on the individual gerbil species. The gerbil uses its long tail to help the gerbil balance when the gerbil is standing on its hind legs.
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First Published: 2nd December 2008, Last Updated: 10th September 2018
1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 02 Dec 2008]
2. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
3. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2010]
4. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 02 Dec 2008]
5. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2009]
6. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 02 Dec 2008]
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