Arabian jird (Meriones arimalius)
Originally identified as Libyan Jird, Meriones libyicus, the specimens from the UAE have now been named as a separate species, the Arabian Jird or Meriones arimalius. The tail of M. arimalius differs from M. crassus by being rougher and less covered with hair. Soles of the feet are naked. Not much is yet known about the behaviour of this species although from areas where they occur it seems that they live in loose colonies existing over a few burrow mounds. Gestation is not known but is probably similar to M. crassus, being approximately 24 days.
Classification Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Eutheria - Boreoeutheria - Euarchontoglires - Glires - Rodentia - Myomorpha - Myodonta - Muroidea - Muridae - Gerbillinae - Gerbillina - Meriones - Pallasiomys - M. arimalius
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