Gerbillus gerbillus (Olivier, 1801)

Amr, Zuhair S., Abu, Mohammad A., Qumsiyeh, Mazin & Eid, Ehab, 2018, Systematics, distribution and ecological analysis of rodents in Jordan, Zootaxa 4397 (1), pp. 1-94 : 40-41

Gerbillus gerbillus (Olivier, 1801)

Common name: The lesser Egyptian gerbil.

Diagnosis: Medium-sized gerbil. Ears small, sandy buff in color and pigmented. Fur color pale sandy buff dorsally, white ventrally, with distinct line of demarcation ( Figure 44 ). White patch behind ear and above eye and rump distinct. Feet with fringes of hair. Soles not pigmented. Tail covered with short hair, moderate terminal pencil present. Skull with flat and broad braincase. Posterior margin of nasals rounded. Upper incisor very narrow. First lower molar with distinct cusps ( Figure 45 ).

Localities: Previous records. ‘Aqaba ( Allen, 1915); Quraiqira, Ar Rīshah, Gharandal, Raḩmah ( Abu Baker & Amr, 2003b) ( Figure 46 ).

Habitat: It strictly inhabits areas and patches of soft, wind-blown sand dunes dominated with Haloxylon persicum ( Abu Baker & Amr, 2003a) . This species was reported from dunes and alluvium in wadis in Sinai Peninsula (Haim & Tchernov, 1974) and sandy patches in palm groves and cultivated areas in the Nile Valley and Delta in Egypt (Osborn & Helmy, 1980). It was found in association with the naked-footed gerbil, G. nanus around lower wadis and salt marshes with Nitraria retusa in Ra ḩmah area. Sinai et al. (2003) studied the ecology and behaviour of this gerbil in "sand islands" and in the mainland. They found that the home range in the mainland for males was significantly larger than that for females, but the other way around in "sand islands". No obvious sexual dimorphism in body mass was observed among the "island" population; however, "mainland" males were heavier than females.

Biology: The lesser Egyptian gerbil is a nocturnal species. Burrows are usually 30 to 60 centimetres in depth. This gerbil is a social animal, living in groups sharing the same burrow. Breeding season is between January and May. Gestation period lasts for 22 days, with the average litter containing between 3 and 6 young.

Remarks: G. gerbillus have a 2N= 42 in females/ 43 in males and FN=70 (female specimen). The autosomal complement of the female includes 18 metacentric, 10 submetacentric, 6 acrocentric and 6 telocentric chromosomes. The X is a large acrocentric chromosome ( Abu Baker et al., 2009).

Figures

FIGURE 44. The lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus (photo by Mohammad Abu Baker).

FIGURE 45.A. Dorsal,B. Ventral, C. Lateral views for the skull, and D. Upper maxillary teeth for Gerbillus gerbillus.

FIGURE 46. Distribution of the lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus.