18 Interesting Facts About Jerboas

Jerboas are rodents that have thrived in steppes and deserts for around 8 million years.

• Body length: up to 25 cm.
• Tail length: up to 30 cm.
• Weight: about 300 g.
• Average lifespan in the wild: approximately 3 years.

Interesting Facts About Jerboas:

1. The tuft at the end of their tail functions as a rudder when the animal runs and signals approaching danger.
2. The length of their powerful hind legs is almost 4 times longer than their front legs, so it’s no surprise that jerboas primarily move on their hind legs.
3. Their front legs help them hold food.
4. Some jerboas can jump as far as 3 meters.
5. Due to their shortened or fused vertebrae, their necks are nearly invisible.
6. Jerboas are nocturnal and crepuscular, preferring to rest in burrows during the day where it’s cool and humid. However, there is an exception—jerboas from the Mangystau region of Kazakhstan.
7. They navigate well in the dark thanks to their large eyes and ears. The rounded tips of their ears pick up various sounds and play an important role in thermoregulation.
8. Jerboas are very cautious. About an hour before dawn, they return to their burrows, which always have a “back door” in case of sudden danger.
9. They are considered excellent builders, meticulously designing their homes with a variety of materials (ranging from grass to feathers).
10. In winter, jerboas generally hibernate, and their underground food stores in hibernation burrows are situated at depths of up to 2.5 meters.
11. During hibernation or periods of food scarcity, jerboas survive on fat stored in their tails.
12. They reach sexual maturity at six months. Jerboas reproduce during the spring and summer, with up to 8 pups in a litter. The young are cared for by the mother until they reach three months of age.
13. They do not drink water, relying on moisture from their food. Their daily diet consists of about 63 grams of seeds, plants, larvae, and small insects. In search of food, they can travel more than 10 kilometers at night.
14. Jerboas typically lead solitary lives. They have many natural predators in their environment.
15. Jerboas can also carry diseases.
16. Of the many species, 7 are found in Russia.
17. The endangered species is the marsupial jerboa, which inhabits Australia.
18. These amusing creatures play an invaluable role in affecting soil and controlling uncontrolled plant growth in their habitat.