Great gerbils are known reservoirs of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, and of Leishmania major, the causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. The great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) is a large rodent found throughout much of Central Asia. The coat colour is a metal-bluish black, the eyes and nails are black too. Most of the gerbils available as pets are the Mongolian Gerbil species ... ’. Only a few species are widely kept as pets but the gerbil is a popular small pet kept in many countries today. Tough Gerbil Names. These rodents are highly adapted to arid climates and are mostly active during the day. These gerbils live in subtropical and tropical dry forests as well as dry savannah and rocky areas. It was first brought from China to Paris in the 19th century, and became a popular house pet there. Idris, in honor of the direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed. However, these two species are the only ones that are kept as pets. Least Concern The fat-tailed gerbil is a social species, but can be kept alone as well as in colonies. Here are some other important things to consider for pet gerbils: Whether you’re looking for a small pet that won’t take up a lot of space or an active pet to keep you entertained, the gerbil is well worth considering. A gerbil can also be lifted by grasping the base of the tail to move the animal from one enclosure to another. Still, that’s the magic of choosing a tough name for these little cuties! They are also known as crop pests and have been implicated in exacerbating erosion. They measure between 8 and 10 inches in length, including their tails. Which gerbil color your particular gerbil is will depend on its specific genetics. If you love irony and making people smile, or if you actually believe that your gerbil is a tiny little warrior who deserves a badass, tough-guy name, then alas, we have the list for you. You may also find a chinchilla mutation and a white-spotted jird. The other species of gerbil which is relatively new as a pet is the fat-tailed gerbil or duprasi gerbil. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. The largest being the Great Gerbil, Rhombomys opimus, which is native to Turkmenistan and can grow up to 16 inches long.The most common species kept as a pet is the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus.The Mongolian gerbil’s scientific name means ‘small-clawed warrior’. [2], Great gerbils are found in arid habitats, predominantly in sandy or clay deserts. N.B: The spots make the general colour of the gerbil lighter then the solid one. The following list is based on the entry in Walker's Mammal's of the World (Ronald M Novak, 5th edition 1991) and was summarised for me by I have added one or two other species which appear to be recognised by other major sources.. Several of these species are endangered, usually due to habitat loss, or due to small isolated populations. Lama, which literally means “dark lips”. The Namib brush-tailed gerbil or Setzer's hairy-footed gerbil (Gerbillurus setzeri) is a species of rodent endemic to Angola and Namibia.Its natural habitats are sandy and gravelly plains. Gerbils vary in size from the 2.5 inch Charming Dipodil (Gerbillus amoenus) from North Africa, to species bigger than a rat, such as the Great Gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) of Central Asia. There are 87 known species and 14 genera of gerbil. However, people have bred numerous different colors in captivity, including all white, orange, gold, silver, and more. Also, if your Gerbil is a noisy one, make sure you read our guide on gerbil vocalizations to understand better what your furball is trying to convey to you. If you’re looking for a small pet that is easy to care for, amenable to handling, and doesn’t take up a lot of space, consider the gerbil! 4. Their weight also ranges between 2 and 5 ounces, with males weighing more than fem… If you recently got a pet gerbil or plan to get one soon, then in addition to its house, food, and toys, it will need a name. [2], The animals are often colonial. Okay, so gerbils are anything but tough. The gerbil most commonly kept as a pet is a species known as the Mongolian Gerbil, it’s scientific name is Meriones unguiculatus. It is known from a few specimens taken from four or five localities in a small area between the white and blue nile rivers. 1. These gerbils are usually a little smaller on the whole as well, having a body length of up to 4 inches. When it comes to handling by humans, however, they are docile. Guinea gerbils have slightly rounded snouts with large eyes and elongated ears. Take what you’ve learned here to decide which type of gerbil to get then check out our other guides to get started with your new pet! Names For Quirky Gerbils. wereallaboutpets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This species is fairly large in size, weighing up to 140 grams at maturity, and they are nocturnal. As you can guess from the name, this species is found in Mongolia and China. ... A gerbil is easily lifted by scooping it up in one’s hands, where it usually remains without restraint. One of the most common rodents in North African countries, Shaw’s jird is the least common gerbil found in the pet trade. Gerbils became popular pet… Their skulls are distinctive by having two grooves in each incisor. While gerbils make great pets, they are living creatures like any other and need a certain degree of care. The Steppe and Gobi Desert Are Dry. Hana, which means “peace of mind”. These gerbils typically inhabit desert, shrubland, and grassland habitats where the live in semidesert regions and in the steppes. Nadia, meaning “the first”. Price: $20 to … Over recent years there has been some confusion surrounding the identities of Pallid Gerbils and Cheesman Gerbils, to the extent that some breeders not being sure which species they do have, have inadvertently hybridised these two similar species together, effectively producing a Pallid/Cheesman hybrid, that in breeding experiments seem fully fertile. However, these are much less common as pets than the Mongolian gerbil. [1], Great gerbils live in family groups and occupy one burrow per family. Neori theme, designed by litMotion Templates, Written by Kate Barrington | Updated Jan 25, 2021. There are about 110 species in this subfamily and there is currently a great deal of debate among taxonomists when it comes to the naming of the different gerbil species. Roughly translated, this means Clawed Warrior. Total Un Likes of Uakari-gerbil: Names-Generators.Com is a free to use website for generating names like Animal Species generator for use in the interest of public. Further descriptions of gerbil colors and genes are available at ... name(s) / Name(n) Kleur ... which is already known in some other rodent species. All of them live in similar environments: dry, sandy areas with little rainfall. While gerbils are popular as a small pet in many areas. Required fields are marked *. Furthermore, I guarantee that your gerbil will love its name too! Read on to learn the difference between the various gerbil species so you can decide which one is right for you. This page contains affiliate links. This colour mutation was discovered in 1998 at the Osnabrueck university in Germany. Anyway, now that you’ve added your own tiny clawed warrior to your family, it’s time to choose what to call them. It stays in its burrow by day, emerging at night to feed on arthropods, vegetable matter, and seeds. The largest gerbil found throughout Central Asia, the great gerbil measures 6 to 8 inches in body alone. They have large front claws used for burrowing. It was listed as a species of least concern in 2006 4. A gentle and hardy animal, the Mongolian gerbil has become a popular small house pet. You can often find both of these species at pet shops or local gerbil breeders, although Mongolian gerbils are more common. They are predominantly diurnal. These little rodents have furry bodies with long, fur-covered tails. The North African gerbil has cinnamon to orange-brown fur on the top of its body with white cheeks and a white throat. Naturally, their fur is sandy brown in color with a cream-colored underside. While gerbils are small animals that don’t take up a lot of space, that’s not the only thing you need to know about them. is a participant in several other affiliate programs, held by other merchants. As you can see, some of these names are from famous people while others are just nonsense but still cute words that can be used as wonderful names for different gerbil species. Guinea pigs are in the family Caviidae and the order Rodentia. Found primarily in China, Mongolia, and other Asian countries, these jirds inhabit grasslands and shrublands where they can find plenty of cover. 1  While many people do enjoy gerbils as pets, they are unfortunately not ideal for very young children as they can be injured if squeezed or dropped. Jaul, “choice”. Your email address will not be published. Burrow system complexes have a distinctive region of cleared soil and can be seen and mapped from aerial photos and satellite images. The largest of the gerbils, great gerbils have a head and body length of 15–20 cm (6–8 in). Sexually mature females mate based on dominance and dominant females will only mate with dominant males while in heat. The first known mention of gerbils came in 1866, by Father Armand David, who sent “yellow rats” to the French National Museum of Natural History in Paris, from northern China. [4] Inhabited great gerbil burrows can be distinguished from abandoned burrows using satellite images .[5]. Food consists mostly of vegetable matter. Rabbit, any of 29 species of long-eared mammals belonging to the family Leporidae, excluding hares (genus Lepus). Longevity is 2–4 years. [3] Their burrows can be fairly extensive with separate chambers for nests and food storage. Gerbil Colors – A Summary. The tail makes up about 40% of the rodent’s total length. Every pet has its own list of pros and cons, so it’s important to do your research to know you’re making the best choice for yourself and your family. Fat-Tailed Gerbil Scientific Name: Pachyuromys duprasi Length: 10 cms (3.9 inches) Tail: 5 cms (2 inches) Life Span: 5 - 7 Years Fat-Tailed Gerbils are the most docile species in the gerbil family and they are new to the pet market. These hamsters are named not only for the appearance of their tails, but because they can store fat in the tail for lean times. Once known as desert rats, the gerbil family includes a variety of small Asian rodents such as sand rats and jirds. Gerbils are a type of rodent (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. It was later brought to the United States in 1954 by Dr. Victor Schwentker for use in research. This species reaches sexual maturity at 70 days but, unlike many species, many females don’t breed in their first year. Also, the tip of the tail becomes white and the belly too. Many are currently classified in tribes, some with multiple genera. They are often known as the Duprasi Gerbil, Fat-Tailed Jird, Fat-Tailed Rat or Beer Mat Gerbil and they are native to the deserts of northern Africa. The Mongolian gerbil typically lives in patriarchal groups consisting of a single parental pair along with the most recent litter and a few of the older pups. Mongolian gerbils and the various different species of gerbils come in a variety of coat colors. Also known as the pallid gerbil, the pale gerbil is endemic to Egypt and is found primarily in the northwestern part of the country. There’s a popular misconception about the meaning of this scientific name, appearing both in printed works and in websites, due to the genus Meriones sharing the name with Greek warrior Meriones in Homer’s Il… Among the shortest male names for gerbils, we suggest: Adel, “the just and honored”. Guy Musser Kirvi, “godmother”. Species: Meriones unguiculatus ; Origin and Habitat . It is found in Sudan and northern kenya 3. Learn More. What makes these gerbils distinctive from other gerbil species is their skulls have two grooves in each incisor and they have large front claws used for burrowing. There are a number of different gerbil colors available. Genus Microdillus (Somali pygmy gerbil) 1 species. But, many researchers are not convinced that this is a true mutation and instead believe that it is a result of cross-breeding with another gerbil species. The Guinean gerbil is found in Guinea, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast. Read on to learn some other important facts to consider before getting a gerbil. Genus Tatera (large naked-soled gerbil) 1 Indian species. Both the steppe and the Gobi Desert are exceptionally dry. There are many more gerbil species. Other common English names for it are the fat-tailed jird, fat-tailed rat, or the beer mat gerbil. There are over 100 different species of gerbil. While the Mongolian gerbil has a long tail measuring up to 4 ½ inches long, the fat-tailed gerbil has a much shorter tail. Here’s a quick overview of some of the types of gerbil and jird: The most popular gerbil species in the United States is the Mongolian gerbil. Selective breeding for the pet trade has resulted in a wide range of different color and pattern varieties. Fat-Tailed Gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi) Origin: Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia. A larger member of the gerbil species is the Balochistan gerbil, which can also be known as the dwarf gerbil. Though the tail is only 2 inches in length, it is much wider. Great gerbils spend considerably more time in the burrows during winter, but do not hibernate. A quirky gerbil is … "Flexible social structure of a desert rodent, Rhombomys opimus: philopatry, kinship, and ecological constraints", "Mapping the distribution of the main host for plague in a complex landscape in Kazakhstan: An object-based approach using SPOT-5 XS, Landsat 7 ETM+, SRTM and multiple Random Forests", "Detecting plague-host abundance from space: Using a spectral vegetation index to identify occupancy of great gerbil burrows", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_gerbil&oldid=1001853879, Taxonbars using multiple manual Wikidata items, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 January 2021, at 18:08. They were named Meriones unguiculatus by the scientist Henri Milne-Edwards in 1867. There are 87 known species and 14 genera of gerbil.. Here are some of the benefits of gerbils as pets: The first thing many people think of when considering a gerbil as a pet is their small size. Be sure to do your research before getting a pet gerbil so you know what you’re getting into and so you can be sure to provide for your new pet’s needs. So, a black gerbil (who's belly is … The two types of gerbil most commonly found in pet stores are the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) and the fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi). Gerbils were given their name as a diminutive form of “jerboa” which is the name of an unrelated type of rodent that inhabits a similar ecological niche. Dr. Schwentker soon recognized their potential as pet animals. The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), also referred to as the desert rat, originates from Mongolia and Northern China and is an extremely good digger, digging with its front paws and kicking debris away with its strong hind legs.Full-grown Mongolian gerbils reach a length of 12-14 cm from nose to the base of the … Genus Sekeetamys (bushy-tailed jird) 1 Middle Eastern and Arabian species. There are many species of gerbils worldwide, but only 2 breeds can be kept as pets – the Mongolian gerbil and the fat-tailed gerbil. These gerbils are particularly fond of burrowing, so they need several inches of soft bedding like wood shavings, though pine and cedar should be avoided. These gerbils grow up to 11 inches long and weigh up to 50g. Balochistan gerbil (Dwarf gerbil), source:World Life Expectancy. In addition, wereallaboutpets.com is a participant in several other affiliate programs, held by other merchants. This species is viewed as a serious pest in parts of Western China due to the amount of grain it can hoard and the damage it causes through its burrowing. They are also capable or nipping or scratching if frightened. 3. Genus Rhombomys (great gerbil) 1 Central Asian species. Shaw’s jird is larger than most gerbils and less sociable –female jirds of this species are particularly aggressive. They are found in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Balochistan Gerbil. Gerbil Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Cnidaria Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Muridae Genus Gerbillinae Scientific Name Gerbillinae Gerbil Conservation Status. A little over-dramatic for the cute gerbil, perhaps; but there is a legend to match. Fat-tailed gerbils are primarily insectivorous in the wild, though they’ll follow a similar diet to Mongolian gerbils or hamsters in captivity. The Gobi might get seven inches of rain each year. These gerbils can reach over 9 … Some other cute names for gerbils are the ones related to nature. Botta’s gerbil has the scientific name dipodillus bottai 2. The great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) is a large rodent found throughout much of Central Asia. Gerbils are small rodents and generally do well with handling, but they have specific needs that must be met to stay healthy and happy. Wild gerbils tend to come in varying shades of light brown, grey, or yellow but captive-bred gerbils have been developed in a variety of different colors through selective breeding. Your email address will not be published. Gerbils are adorable, intelligent little rodents that are even smart enough to recognize their name when being called. Pet shops around the world are stocked with popular pets like hamsters and guinea pigs, but these aren’t the only options. Genus Pachyuromys (fat-tailed gerbil) 1 northern Saharan species. While the wild Shaw’s jird is short-haired with a sandy, agouti coloration, some long-haired varieties have started to surface. Fadi, which means “Savior”. … Continue reading A Brief Introduction to Botta’s Gerbil → If you’re committed to being a responsible pet owner, however, they are very popular pets for good reason. Like many pets, there are several different types of gerbil and they are all different. Did you know the scientific name for the Mongolian gerbil, the species of gerbil most commonly kept as pets, is Meriones unguiculatus? The scientific name of the guinea pig is Cavia porcellus, with Cavia indicating the genus the species is a member of. Legend has it that this name was bestowed on it by the Emperor Genghis Kahn when a gerbil bit the foot of an assassin just as he was about to strike the sleeping Emperor. This is a fairly large gerbil species, having a body length around 6 inches with another 7 inches of tail. The Mongolian Gerbil, also referred to as the desert rat, originates from Mongolia and Northern China and is an extremely good digger, digging with its front paws and kicking debris away with its strong hind legs. These gerbils may also have a dark stripe on the nose with a clear division between the dorsal color and the ventral colors. Pale gerbils are pale orange in color with white underparts as well as white color on the forelimbs and feet. The most common pet gerbil’s species name is Meriones unguiculatus. There are as many as 19559 names generated for the topic Uakari-gerbil Name Generator in our database. While there are several species of gerbils in the wild, most pets are captive bred Mongolian gerbils. The name is given by the amount of white on the body and the shape of the white markings. The great gerbil lives in family groups and they are primarily diurnal animals that feed mostly on vegetable matter. Gerbil Species A list of gerbil species with common name, scientific name and alternative names. That translates to “little clawed warrior.” The more you know, right? A wide range of different color and pattern varieties participant in several affiliate! Is relatively new as a pet is the fat-tailed gerbil has cinnamon to fur. ( great gerbil measures 6 to 8 inches in length, including their tails genus the species a. N.B: the spots make the general colour of the gerbils, we suggest: Adel, “ the and. 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