Iranian Jerboa
This cute little rodent's survival depends on us
Food/ Habitat
The Iranian Jerboa (Allactaga firouzi) is one of the world's most endangered rodent species. It lives only in the Iranian Plateau, which makes it hard for conservation efforts. Its habitat is flat plains with vegetation. Some foods it eats are grass, seeds, and small insects. It is an omnivore, and since the jerboa is nocturnal, it hunts for food during the night.
Jittery Jumpers!
An Iranian Jerboa in mid-jump. An Iranian Jerboa can jump up to three meters (nine feet) high in the air! (AJ) Image credit: Tumblr
Yummy!!!
An Iranian Jerboa chomps down on a cockroach. Other foods in its diet include insects and seeds. (AJ) Image credit: Animal Planet
All the better to hear you with!
A long-eared Iranian Jerboa. A jerboa's ears are relatively long compared to its body size. Its ears can reach up to four inches in length! A jerboa uses its ears to listen for predators and insects to eat. (AJ) Image credit: Factzoo
Description Notes
The Iranian Jerboa is a mammal. It is part of the rodent family. It is covered in a light brown to tan fur, and is sometimes white. It is about 50 grams, and it has a tail length of about 150 mm. Its body length is only 100 mm long. It communicates with chirps and squeaks. It has abnormally large ears and tails, but it has very good eyesight and hearing.
Re: Long-Eared Jerboa
Rarely seen footage of an Iranian Jerboa. (NG)
Adaptations
The jerboa has large ears, eyes, and tails. Because of the abnormalities, it has very sensitive senses. It has winter and summer burrows. Most of the time it spends in its winter burrow it hibernates. It is timid, and shy of humans. Its fur colors camouflages with the terrain.
Reasosns for Endangerment
Although the Iranian Jerboa is shy and timid, it still interacts with some humans. Some humans capture them from their habitat, and keep them as pets. Also, some jerboas are victims of roadkill. Traps and factories also reasons for endangerment.
Crirical Information
The Iranian Jerboa was recently listed in Animal Planet's top twenty most endangered animal list. Animal Planet is an influential organization that helps animals. IUCN Red List also listed them as endangered. The jerboa was also subject to many environmental studies.
Works cited
Academic Journals." Home :::Academic Journals. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.academicjournals.org/>.
"Iranian Jerboa." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.wikipedia.org/>.
"National Geographic Home Page." National Geographic. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/>.
"Wild Animals: Facts, Pictures, Video." : Animal Planet. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://animal.discovery.com/animals/>.
"Iranian Jerboa." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.wikipedia.org/>.
"National Geographic Home Page." National Geographic. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/>.
"Wild Animals: Facts, Pictures, Video." : Animal Planet. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://animal.discovery.com/animals/>.