The fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi), also called the duprasi gerbil or doop, is a rodent belonging to the subfamilyGerbillinae. It is only species in the genusPachyuromys. They are frequently kept as pets.
The fat-tailed gerbil is a medium-sized gerbil. Its body length is about 10 cm (3.9 in), with a tail length of about 5 cm (2.0 in). The hair at the back and the head is yellow-coloured, with a dark grey base and a small black tip. The belly is white. Fat-tailed gerbils weigh between 22 and 45 grams (0.78 and 1.59 oz) in the wild,[4] but in captivity can weigh between 55 and 82 grams (1.9 and 2.9 oz).[5] Their body is round and somewhat flattened. They have no clear neck and a very sharp face, with large oval-shaped black eyes. They look similar to a dwarf hamster, but unlike a hamster they have a pointed snout and a fat, almost bald, club-shaped tail. The fat-tailed gerbil stores fat in its tail in the same way that the camel stores fat in its hump.
Captive specimens of the fat-tailed gerbil have an average life span of between 2 and 4 years.[6]
Fat-tailed gerbils are native to the Northern Sahara (North-western Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria). There they live in sparsely vegetated sand sheets or rocky deserts. In the wild, fat-tailed gerbils live in simple burrows about one meter deep, in hard sandy soil. They may also occupy other species' burrows.[7]
Dietedit
Fat-tailed gerbils are mostly insectivorous in the wild, but will eat also a variety of plants.[7] In captivity, they are kept on a basic rodent mix, and are fond of mealworms, crickets, moths, and almost any other insect, even beetles. They can also be given some vegetables and fruit, like carrots, cauliflower, chicory, and apples.
Behavioredit
Wild fat-tailed gerbils are solitary animals, and sometimes live in colonies. In the wild, fat-tailed gerbils become active at dusk and this is the same in captivity - although they can sometimes appear to be diurnal.[7] When they fight, they shriek loudly and bite each other's tails.[8] The mating ritual of the fat-tailed gerbil may also be confused with fighting.
Fat-tailed gerbils, like most other rodents, have scent glands on their stomach and engage in marking their territory by stretching out and rubbing their bellies on the ground and furnishings.
Breedingedit
Fat-tailed gerbils sexually mature when they are around two months old, and the gestation period is 19 to 21 days. Their average litter size is three to six, and the pups are weaned at three to four weeks.
Referencesedit
^Granjon, L. (2016). "Pachyuromys duprasi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T15865A22411191. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15865A22411191.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^Felt, Stephen A.; Merrill, Nancy L.; Guirguis, Fady I.; Hussein, Hussein I. (2012-01-01), Suckow, Mark A.; Stevens, Karla A.; Wilson, Ronald P. (eds.), "Chapter 53 - Egyptian Fat-Tailed Jird", The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Boston: Academic Press, pp. 1157–1170, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-380920-9.00053-5, ISBN978-0-12-380920-9, retrieved 2022-08-25
^Hoath, Richard (2009). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt. American Univ in Cairo Press. ISBN978-977-416-254-1.
^Felt, Stephen A.; Merrill, Nancy L.; Guirguis, Fady I.; Hussein, Hussein I. (2012-01-01), Suckow, Mark A.; Stevens, Karla A.; Wilson, Ronald P. (eds.), "Chapter 53 - Egyptian Fat-Tailed Jird", The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Boston: Academic Press, pp. 1157–1170, ISBN978-0-12-380920-9, retrieved 2022-08-25
^ abcOsborn, Dale J.; Helmy, Ibrahim. (1980). The contemporary land mammals of Egypt (including Sinai) / Dale J. Osborn, Ibrahim Helmy. [Chicago]: Field Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.2801.
^Barker, Sheunna. "Pachyuromys duprasi:fat-tailed gerbil". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
Granjon, L. (2016). "Pachyuromys duprasi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T15865A22411191. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15865A22411191.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
Cope, E. Duprasi. e-gerbil. Accessed October 11, 2005 at
Maas, P. 2004. (On-line), The Mongolian Gerbil Website. Retrieved October 11, 2005.
tailed, gerbil, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, 2012, learn, when, remove, this, message, tailed, gerbi. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message The fat tailed gerbil Pachyuromys duprasi also called the duprasi gerbil or doop is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae It is only species in the genus Pachyuromys They are frequently kept as pets Fat tailed gerbil A pair of duprasi gerbils Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Muridae Genus PachyuromysLataste 1880 Species P duprasi Binomial name Pachyuromys duprasiLataste 1880 Other common English names are fat tailed jird fat tailed rat and beer mat gerbil 2 3 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Diet 4 Behavior 5 Breeding 6 References 7 External linksDescription editThe fat tailed gerbil is a medium sized gerbil Its body length is about 10 cm 3 9 in with a tail length of about 5 cm 2 0 in The hair at the back and the head is yellow coloured with a dark grey base and a small black tip The belly is white Fat tailed gerbils weigh between 22 and 45 grams 0 78 and 1 59 oz in the wild 4 but in captivity can weigh between 55 and 82 grams 1 9 and 2 9 oz 5 Their body is round and somewhat flattened They have no clear neck and a very sharp face with large oval shaped black eyes They look similar to a dwarf hamster but unlike a hamster they have a pointed snout and a fat almost bald club shaped tail The fat tailed gerbil stores fat in its tail in the same way that the camel stores fat in its hump Captive specimens of the fat tailed gerbil have an average life span of between 2 and 4 years 6 Distribution editThe French zoologist Fernand Lataste first described Pachyuromys duprasi in 1880 in Laghouat Algeria in Le Naturaliste Fat tailed gerbils are native to the Northern Sahara North western Egypt Libya Tunisia and Algeria There they live in sparsely vegetated sand sheets or rocky deserts In the wild fat tailed gerbils live in simple burrows about one meter deep in hard sandy soil They may also occupy other species burrows 7 Diet editFat tailed gerbils are mostly insectivorous in the wild but will eat also a variety of plants 7 In captivity they are kept on a basic rodent mix and are fond of mealworms crickets moths and almost any other insect even beetles They can also be given some vegetables and fruit like carrots cauliflower chicory and apples Behavior editWild fat tailed gerbils are solitary animals and sometimes live in colonies In the wild fat tailed gerbils become active at dusk and this is the same in captivity although they can sometimes appear to be diurnal 7 When they fight they shriek loudly and bite each other s tails 8 The mating ritual of the fat tailed gerbil may also be confused with fighting Fat tailed gerbils like most other rodents have scent glands on their stomach and engage in marking their territory by stretching out and rubbing their bellies on the ground and furnishings Breeding editFat tailed gerbils sexually mature when they are around two months old and the gestation period is 19 to 21 days Their average litter size is three to six and the pups are weaned at three to four weeks References edit Granjon L 2016 Pachyuromys duprasi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T15865A22411191 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T15865A22411191 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 The Fat tail Gerbil Pachyuromys Duprasis eGerbil www egerbil com Retrieved 2022 08 25 Felt Stephen A Merrill Nancy L Guirguis Fady I Hussein Hussein I 2012 01 01 Suckow Mark A Stevens Karla A Wilson Ronald P eds Chapter 53 Egyptian Fat Tailed Jird The Laboratory Rabbit Guinea Pig Hamster and Other Rodents American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Boston Academic Press pp 1157 1170 doi 10 1016 b978 0 12 380920 9 00053 5 ISBN 978 0 12 380920 9 retrieved 2022 08 25 Hoath Richard 2009 A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt American Univ in Cairo Press ISBN 978 977 416 254 1 Felt Stephen A Merrill Nancy L Guirguis Fady I Hussein Hussein I 2012 01 01 Suckow Mark A Stevens Karla A Wilson Ronald P eds Chapter 53 Egyptian Fat Tailed Jird The Laboratory Rabbit Guinea Pig Hamster and Other Rodents American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Boston Academic Press pp 1157 1170 ISBN 978 0 12 380920 9 retrieved 2022 08 25 Pachyuromys duprasi Fat tailed gerbil Animal Diversity Web a b c Osborn Dale J Helmy Ibrahim 1980 The contemporary land mammals of Egypt including Sinai Dale J Osborn Ibrahim Helmy Chicago Field Museum of Natural History doi 10 5962 bhl title 2801 Barker Sheunna Pachyuromys duprasi fat tailed gerbil Animal Diversity Web University of Michigan Retrieved 27 June 2019 Granjon L 2016 Pachyuromys duprasi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T15865A22411191 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T15865A22411191 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 Cope E Duprasi e gerbil Accessed October 11 2005 at https web archive org web 20070122210738 http www sensi media com gerbil duprasi htm Maas P 2004 Fat tailed Gerbil Page On line The Mongolian Gerbil Website Retrieved October 11 2005 Barker S 2004 1 External links editOverview of Fat tailed Gerbils e gerbil Duprasi page The National Gerbil Society UK Fat Tailed Gerbil Gerbil Information Page Fat Tailed Gerbil Duprasi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fat tailed gerbil amp oldid 1189166685, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
