Giant-eared jerboa
| Giant-eared jerboa | ||||||||||||
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Giant-eared jerboa ( Euchoreutes naso ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Euchoreutes | ||||||||||||
| Sclater , 1891 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Euchoreutes naso | ||||||||||||
| Sclater , 1891 |
The giant- eared jerboa ( Euchoreutes naso ) is a rodent from the family of jerboa (Dipodidae) living in East Asia .
features
Giant-eared jerboa reach a head body length of 7 to 9 centimeters, plus a 15 to 16 centimeter long tail. Their fur is yellowish or pink on the upper side, the underside is white. The long tail is covered with short hair along its entire length, only at the tip there is a black and white tassel. Like most jerboa, they are characterized by their elongated hind legs, which allow them to move around in a hopping manner. There are small bristles between the toes that prevent them from sinking into the sand. The name-giving feature is the gigantic enlarged ears - the largest of all jerboa - which are a third longer than the head. Such enlarged ears are often found in desert-dwelling animals, they are mostly used for cooling.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of these jerboa includes southern Mongolia and the Chinese Xinjiang , where they occur in the Taklamakan Desert and in various mountainous countries in the north of this province. Their habitat are deserts and semi-deserts, often covered with sand; they can sometimes also be found in steppe and mountain regions.
Way of life
Very little is known about the way these animals live. It is believed that, like other jerboa, they are predominantly nocturnal and during the day they retreat to self-dug tunnels and burrows underground. Some jerboa also hibernate , but it is not known whether this also applies to the giant-eared jerboa.
The food of these animals should consist partly of insects, whereby they can also capture flying animals by fast, high jumps. Sometimes they are also allowed to ingest parts of plants.
Nothing is known about their reproduction.
Danger
Because of human interference in their habitat the classified IUCN , the Art 1996 as endangered ( endangered one). In a reassessment in 2008, it was classified as safe ( least concern ) due to its wide distribution and large population .
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 .
Web links
- Illustration
- Video and photos
- Euchoreutes naso in the Red List of Threatened Species of IUCN , 2015. Posted by: N. Batsaikhan among others, 2008. Accessed on 12 6th, 2015.
