Namib gerbils
| Namib gerbils | ||||||||||||
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South African gerbil ( Gerbillurus paeba ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Gerbillurus | ||||||||||||
| Shortridge , 1942 |
Namib gerbils ( Gerbillurus ) are a genus in the subfamily of gerbils with four species that occur in southern Africa .
The following species belong to the genus.
- South African gerbil ( Gerbillurus paeba ), predominantly Namibia , Botswana and western South Africa . A smaller population lives in the border area Zimbabwe / Mozambique / South Africa.
- Common gerbil ( Gerbillurus setzeri ), western Namibia and southwest Angola .
- Dune gerbil ( Gerbillurus tytonis ), Southwest Namibia.
- Bush-tailed dwarf gerbil ( Gerbillurus vallinus ), southern Namibia and northwestern South Africa.
The Namib gerbil ( Gerbilliscus validus ) does not belong to this genus.
With a head-torso length of 9 to 12 cm, a tail length of 9.5 to 15.6 cm and a weight of 20 to 37 g, the species belong to the small and medium-sized gerbils. Depending on the species, the fur on the upper side has a brown, gray-brown, sandy or slightly rosy color, while the underside is always white. These gerbils differ from other members of the Gerbillurini genus in that the details of their teeth differ. In contrast to the bare-soled gerbils (genera Gerbilliscus and Tatera ), the underside of the hind feet is covered with hair. There is a tassel at the tip of the tail.
Namib gerbils live in deserts or semi-deserts with a bottom of sand or alluvial sand as well as vegetation of grass, bushes or open groups of trees. The animals are nocturnal and feed on the seeds of the existing plants. During the day they stay in complex tunnel systems, the entrances of which are protected by tufts of grass or roots. At least with the South African gerbil there are no fixed mating times. After a gestation of about 26 days, 2 to 5 pups are born, each weighing about 2 g.
The IUCN lists all four species as Least Concern .
Reference literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Gerbillurus ).
- ↑ a b Gerbillurus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015. Accessed April 26, 2016.
- ↑ a b Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 2. 6th edition. 1999, pp. 1448-1448.