Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentiaa
Subordo: Myomorpha
Superfamilia: Dipodoidea
Familia: Dipodidae
Subfamilia: Dipodinae
Genus: Jaculus
Species: Jaculus jaculus
Name
Jaculus jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Original combination: Mus jaculus
Type locality: Egypt (Giza Pyramids)
References
Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiæ: impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. i–ii, 1–824 pp DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.542: 63. Open access Reference page.
Jaculus jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Jaculus jaculus in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Jaculus jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Least Concern)
Vernacular names
العربية: جربوع صغير
català: Jerbu egipci
čeština: Tarbík egyptský
Deutsch: Kleine Wüstenspringmaus
English: Lesser Egyptian Jerboa
español: Jerbo de Egipto
suomi: Aavikkorotta
français: Gerboise des steppes
magyar: Egyiptomi ugróegér
italiano: Topo delle piramidi
polski: Skoczek egipski, skoczek pustynny
српски / srpski: Jaculus jaculus
svenska: Ökenspringråtta
українська: Cкакун звичайний
中文: 非洲跳鼠
The lesser jerboa (Jaculus jaculus) is a small rodent of Africa and the Middle East. Its diet consists mainly of seeds and grasses.
Description
A small rodent, it is sometimes likened to a tiny kangaroo due to its incredibly large hind legs, and hopping form of locomotion. The lesser Egyptian jerboa has three toes on each of its hind feet and a very long tail, used for balance when jumping. It has large eyes and ears and a rather stubby snout, and its coat is a pale or dark sandy colour with a paler underside.
Biology
Lesser Egyptian Gerbil from Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia
The lesser Egyptian jerboa is a strictly nocturnal species, feeding on seeds, insects, succulent parts of desert grasses, and fungi (desert truffles Terfezia species[2]), which it detects using its acute sense of smell. Amazingly, it does not need to drink in order to survive the arid desert conditions, relying on its food to provide it with all its water needs. The lesser Egyptian jerboa can travel long distances in search of food, up to ten kilometres a day, which it easily covers thanks to its large feet and hopping stride; the jerboa is known to leap up to three metres in a single bound.
Lesser Egyptian Gerbil from South Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
The lesser Egyptian jerboa lives in burrows, dug in counter clockwise spirals with its forelimbs and teeth, which it uses for a variety of functions. The permanent burrows are often complex systems with multiple entrances and exits, consisting of storage chambers, hibernation chambers and a nesting chamber at the very bottom. The burrows are well-hidden and sealed with a plug of sand in late spring and summer to keep the heat out and moisture in, providing an ideal place for the animal to rest, evade predators and escape from the heat of the day. This species has also been observed sheltering under desert truffles. During particularly hot or dry spells the jerboa will aestivate in the burrow and in winter it is thought to hibernate, but this has only been reported in a few individuals.
Not much is known about the breeding habits of jerboas due to their solitary and nocturnal nature. However, breeding is known to occur at least twice a year, between June and July and from October to December. Males attempt to attract females by performing a bizarre ritual display; standing on its hind legs in front of an approaching female, the male faces his potential mate and then begins to slap the female at regular intervals with his short front limbs. A successful mating usually produces a litter of four to five young that become independent at around eight to ten weeks, and sexually mature at eight to twelve months. On the whole, the lesser Egyptian jerboa is silent but when disturbed or handled it can emit grunting noises or shrill shrieks.
Range
It is found throughout the Sahara Desert, in scattered areas of the Sahel, and the Middle East.
Habitat
Lesser Egyptian Jerboa skeletons mounted to show a sequence of jump movements, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris
The lesser Egyptian jerboa inhabits desert areas, which may be either sandy or rocky.
References
Amori, G.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsainas, G.; Palomo, L.; Aulagnier, S. (2016) [errata version of 2021 assessment]. "Jaculus jaculus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T10912A197517244. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T10912A197517244.en. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
Chatin A. (1891). "Contribution à l'histoire naturelle de la truffe: II Terfas ou truffes d'Afrique et d'Arabie, genres Terfezia et Tirmania". Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France. 38: 54–64. doi:10.1080/00378941.1891.10828525.
External links
Media related to Jaculus jaculus at Wikimedia Commons
Holden, M. E. and G. G. Musser. 2005. Family Dipodidae. pp. 871–893 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. IUCN Red List (March, 2010) https://web.archive.org/web/20140627000000/http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Qumsiyeh, M.B. (1996) Mammals of the Holy Land. Texas Tech University Press, Texas. Hoath, R. (2009) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt. The American University in Cairo Press, Cairo, Egypt. Hellyer, P. and Aspinall, S. (2005) The Emirates: A Natural History. Trident Press, London. Nowak, R.M. (1999) Walker's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London. Kingdon, J. (1997) The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press Limited, London. Roots, C. (2006) Nocturnal Animals. Greenwood Press, Westport. BBC Science and Nature (November, 2009) http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/620.shtml
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