#jaculus jaculus

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A lesser Egyptian jerboa (Jaculus jaculus) in Kzi'ot, Palestine

by jonathanbensimon

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Lesser Egyptian Jerboa

Jaculus jaculus

Jaculus translates into throw or more than likely darting out.

Family: Dipodidae (Dipodids)

Fun Fact: "They are solitary creatures that dig burrows in the sand in a counterclockwise spiral. The burrows are dug in hard ground and go to a depth of around 1.2 meters. There are a couple of additional exits off of the main burrow, and the nest is at the very bottom." (ADW)

Habitat: They are endemic to deserts of northeastern Africa (Sudan, and of course Egypt), Arabian Peninsula, and Central Asia.

Ecosystem Role: They eat plants (grains, seeds, grass, etc..) and occasionally insects. Their food contains all the moisture they need to survive. They provide food for foxes, snakes, and other mammalia predators.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Jaculus jaculus vocator - ירבוע מצוי \ ירבוע הנגב by moshek70 on Flickr.