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Allactaga

January 01, 1970

The genus Allactaga contains the five-toed jerboas of Asia.[2] They are small mammals belonging to the order of rodents.[3][4] They are characteristically known as the hopping rodents of the desert and semi-arid regions. They have long hind feet, short forelimbs, and walk upright.[5] They have large ears in comparison to their body size and a large tail. The tail assists and serves as support when the jerboa is standing upright.[6] The jerboa body length ranges from 5–15 cm and has a tail ranging from 7–25 cm.[7] The "forelimbs of the jerboa serve as a pair of hands for feeding, grooming, etc."[8] Jerboas use their nose to burrow and push the dirt when looking for food.[9] The male jerboa is usually larger in size and weight in comparison to the female jerboa.[10] The pelt of the jerboa is either silky or velvety in texture and light in color,[9] the coloration helps camouflage into surroundings to avoid predators. All members of the genus have five toes.

Adaptation to desert conditions edit

Jerboas are adapted to live in deserts therefore are called xerocole animals. They are nocturnal and spend most of their day burrowed under sand to avoid the heat.[11] Burrowing under the sand, they evade the heat from the sun, minimizing water loss and avoiding dehydration. By decreasing activity during the day they require less water intake. The jerboas build large burrow systems, tunnels, to stay in during the day. These burrows have a higher moisture concentration than at the surface level and help reduce body water loss.[8] Specific species of jerboas plug burrow entrances with soil to retain moisture and keep hot air from entering burrows.[7] The pelt of the jerboa is usually light and sandy in color to reflect heat from the sun and reduce heat absorption.[12]

Social habits edit

Jerboas are highly social animals and require interactions with other jerboas. After nightfall, they congregate in large burrows and demonstrate intense activity. At the entrance of the burrow, each male jerboa leaves droppings to identify they are in the burrow.[13]

Diet edit

The hot temperature of the desert restricts the jerboas to search for food at nightfall, when the temperature is cooler. Diet varies by species, some feeding almost exclusively on vegetation and others are insectivores. They search for sprouting vegetation, roots, and/or dry grains. During autumn, jerboas are at their heaviest in preparation for hibernation.[9] Jerboas are not considered agricultural pest.[14]

Reproduction edit

The jerboa reproductive activity depends on the seasons. Similar to other hibernating animals, the mating season for jerboas is spring to summer.[15]

In captivity edit

Captured jerboas have lived up to two years outside of their natural habitat. In captivity, their life span is significantly reduced. Jerboas rely on social interactions with other jerboas. Additionally, their nature is to burrow in the sand, in captivity or as pets they died from stress if no sand is available.

Species edit

Genus Allactaga


References edit

  1. ^ Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Duff, A. and A. Lawson. 2004. Mammals of the World A Checklist. New Haven, Yale University Press.
  4. ^ Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.
  5. ^ Lagassé, Paul. "Jerboa." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. New York: Columbia UP, 2000. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 October 2013.
  6. ^ Kirmiz, John P. Adaptation to Desert Environment; A Study on the Jerboa, Rat and Man. London: Butterworths, 1962. 17. Print.
  7. ^ a b "Jerboa (rodent)" Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 12 October 2013.
  8. ^ a b Kirmiz, John P. Adaptation to Desert Environment; A Study on the Jerboa, Rat and Man. London: Butterworths, 1962. 29. Print.
  9. ^ a b c Miljutin, Andrei. "Trends of Specialisation in Rodents: The Five-Toed Jerboas, Subfamily Allactaginae (Dipodoidea, Rodentia)." Acta Zoologica Lituanica 18.4 (2008): 228-39. Taylor & Francis Online. 23 July 2012. Web. 7 October 2013.
  10. ^ Kirmiz, John P. Adaptation to Desert Environment; A Study on the Jerboa, Rat and Man. London: Butterworths, 1962. 19. Print.
  11. ^ Hearst, Michael, and Jelmer Noordeman. "Unusual Creatures: A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of the Earth's Strangest Animals". San Francisco Chronicle, 2012. Print.
  12. ^ Rundel, Philip Wilson; Gibson, Arthur C. (30 September 2005). "Adaptations of Mojave Desert Animals". Ecological Communities And Processes in a Mojave Desert Ecosystem: Rock Valley, Nevada. Cambridge University Press. pp. 132–138. ISBN 9780521021418.
  13. ^ Kirmiz, John P. Adaptation to Desert Environment; A Study on the Jerboa, Rat and Man. London: Butterworths, 1962. 30. Print.
  14. ^ Ercüment, Colak. "Ecology and Biology of Allactaga Elater, Allactaga Euphratica and Allactaga Williamsi (Rodentia: Dipodidae) in Turkey." December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Tr. J. Zool. (1996): 105. Tr. J. Zool.. Web. 3 October 2013.
  15. ^ Janati, A., and R. Talbi. "Distribution and Seasonal Variation in Hypothalamic RF-amide Peptides in a Semi-Desert Rodent, the Jerboa." Journal of Neuroendocrinology 25 (2013): 402-11. Print.

January 01, 1970
allactaga, genus, contains, five, toed, jerboas, asia, they, small, mammals, belonging, order, rodents, they, characteristically, known, hopping, rodents, desert, semi, arid, regions, they, have, long, hind, feet, short, forelimbs, walk, upright, they, have, l. The genus Allactaga contains the five toed jerboas of Asia 2 They are small mammals belonging to the order of rodents 3 4 They are characteristically known as the hopping rodents of the desert and semi arid regions They have long hind feet short forelimbs and walk upright 5 They have large ears in comparison to their body size and a large tail The tail assists and serves as support when the jerboa is standing upright 6 The jerboa body length ranges from 5 15 cm and has a tail ranging from 7 25 cm 7 The forelimbs of the jerboa serve as a pair of hands for feeding grooming etc 8 Jerboas use their nose to burrow and push the dirt when looking for food 9 The male jerboa is usually larger in size and weight in comparison to the female jerboa 10 The pelt of the jerboa is either silky or velvety in texture and light in color 9 the coloration helps camouflage into surroundings to avoid predators All members of the genus have five toes AllactagaTemporal range Late Miocene Recent Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Dipodidae Subfamily Allactaginae Genus AllactagaF Cuvier 1836 Type species Mus jaculus 1 Species Allactaga balikunica Allactaga bullata Allactaga firouzi Allactaga hotsoni Allactaga major Allactaga severtzovi Allactaga sibirica Allactaga toussi Contents 1 Adaptation to desert conditions 2 Social habits 3 Diet 4 Reproduction 5 In captivity 6 Species 7 ReferencesAdaptation to desert conditions editJerboas are adapted to live in deserts therefore are called xerocole animals They are nocturnal and spend most of their day burrowed under sand to avoid the heat 11 Burrowing under the sand they evade the heat from the sun minimizing water loss and avoiding dehydration By decreasing activity during the day they require less water intake The jerboas build large burrow systems tunnels to stay in during the day These burrows have a higher moisture concentration than at the surface level and help reduce body water loss 8 Specific species of jerboas plug burrow entrances with soil to retain moisture and keep hot air from entering burrows 7 The pelt of the jerboa is usually light and sandy in color to reflect heat from the sun and reduce heat absorption 12 Social habits editJerboas are highly social animals and require interactions with other jerboas After nightfall they congregate in large burrows and demonstrate intense activity At the entrance of the burrow each male jerboa leaves droppings to identify they are in the burrow 13 Diet editThe hot temperature of the desert restricts the jerboas to search for food at nightfall when the temperature is cooler Diet varies by species some feeding almost exclusively on vegetation and others are insectivores They search for sprouting vegetation roots and or dry grains During autumn jerboas are at their heaviest in preparation for hibernation 9 Jerboas are not considered agricultural pest 14 Reproduction editThe jerboa reproductive activity depends on the seasons Similar to other hibernating animals the mating season for jerboas is spring to summer 15 In captivity editCaptured jerboas have lived up to two years outside of their natural habitat In captivity their life span is significantly reduced Jerboas rely on social interactions with other jerboas Additionally their nature is to burrow in the sand in captivity or as pets they died from stress if no sand is available Species editGenus Allactaga incertae sedis Allactaga toussi citation needed Subgenus Allactaga Iranian jerboa Allactaga firouzi Hotson s jerboa Allactaga hotsoni Great jerboa Allactaga major Severtzov s jerboa Allactaga severtzovi Subgenus Orientallactaga Balikun jerboa Allactaga balikunica Gobi jerboa Allactaga bullata Mongolian five toed jerboa Allactaga sibiricaReferences edit Wilson D E Reeder D M eds 2005 Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 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 Duff A and A Lawson 2004 Mammals of the World A Checklist New Haven Yale University Press Nowak R M 1999 Walker s Mammals of the World Vol 2 Johns Hopkins University Press London Lagasse Paul Jerboa The Columbia Encyclopedia 6th ed New York Columbia UP 2000 Academic Search Premier Web 1 October 2013 Kirmiz John P Adaptation to Desert Environment A Study on the Jerboa Rat and Man London Butterworths 1962 17 Print a b Jerboa rodent Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc 2013 Web 12 October 2013 a b Kirmiz John P Adaptation to Desert Environment A Study on the Jerboa Rat and Man London Butterworths 1962 29 Print a b c Miljutin Andrei Trends of Specialisation in Rodents The Five Toed Jerboas Subfamily Allactaginae Dipodoidea Rodentia Acta Zoologica Lituanica 18 4 2008 228 39 Taylor amp Francis Online 23 July 2012 Web 7 October 2013 Kirmiz John P Adaptation to Desert Environment A Study on the Jerboa Rat and Man London Butterworths 1962 19 Print Hearst Michael and Jelmer Noordeman Unusual Creatures A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of the Earth s Strangest Animals San Francisco Chronicle 2012 Print Rundel Philip Wilson Gibson Arthur C 30 September 2005 Adaptations of Mojave Desert Animals Ecological Communities And Processes in a Mojave Desert Ecosystem Rock Valley Nevada Cambridge University Press pp 132 138 ISBN 9780521021418 Kirmiz John P Adaptation to Desert Environment A Study on the Jerboa Rat and Man London Butterworths 1962 30 Print Ercument Colak Ecology and Biology of Allactaga Elater Allactaga Euphratica and Allactaga Williamsi Rodentia Dipodidae in Turkey Archived December 3 2013 at the Wayback Machine Tr J Zool 1996 105 Tr J Zool Web 3 October 2013 Janati A and R Talbi Distribution and Seasonal Variation in Hypothalamic RF amide Peptides in a Semi Desert Rodent the Jerboa Journal of Neuroendocrinology 25 2013 402 11 Print Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Allactaga amp oldid 1194085848, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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