Iranian jerboa
| Iranian jerboa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Dipodidae |
| Genus: | Allactaga |
| Subgenus: | Allactaga |
| Species: | A. firouzi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Allactaga firouzi Womochel, 1978
| |
The Iranian jerboa (Allactaga firouzi) is a rodent of the family Dipodidae and subfamily Allactaginae.[2] They are characteristically known as hopping rodents and have only been found in a small population in Iran. Iranian jerboa are microhabitat specialist, they require a particular environment to provide them with specific conditions suitable for living.[3]
Physical appearance
[edit]Similar to the other jerboas in the genus Allactaga, the Iranian jerboa are small hopping rodents of desert regions and have large ears and a long tail. The tail assists and serves as support when the jerboa is standing upright.[4] They have long hind feet and short forelegs.[5] The forelimbs of the jerboa serve as a pair of hands for feeding, grooming, etc.[6]
Predation
[edit]Iranian jerboas were found on flat plains with a gravel and little vegetation. Low vegetation areas help them see predators more easily, allowing them to return to burrows quickly.[3] Similar to most jerboas, the Iranian Jerboa avoids brightly moonlit nights to decrease the chance of predation.
Phylogeny
[edit]Compared to other jerboas in the same genus, Iranian jerboas are most related to Allactaga hotsoni.[7]
Burrows/tunnels
[edit]It is a nocturnal[8][9] animal, spending the day in burrows. The Iranian Jerboas are one of the few jerboas that have different types of burrows. They make a different burrow in the summer and winter.[10] The winter burrows have deeper tunnels, for protection during hibernation from predators and harsh winters.[11]
Diet
[edit]This jerboa has a vegetarian diet of Anabasis and Peganum harmala.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Kennerley, R. (2016). "Allactaga firouzi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T855A22202302. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T855A22202302.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Holden, M. E. and G. G. Musser. 2005. Family Dipodidae. Pp. 871–893 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
- ^ a b c Naderi, Gholamreza. "Investigation of Habitat Preferences of Iranian Jerboa." MammaliaWinter 75.2 (2011): 183. ArticleReach. Web. 15 Sept. 2013.
- ^ Kirmiz, John P. Adaptation to Desert Environment; A Study on the Jerboa, Rat and Man. London: Butterworths, 1962. 17. Print.
- ^ Lagassé, Paul. "Jerboa." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. New York: Columbia UP, 2000. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.
- ^ Kirmiz, John P. Adaptation to Desert Environment; A Study on the Jerboa, Rat and Man. London: Butterworths, 1962. 29. Print.
- ^ Dianat, Malahat. "Molecular Phylogeny of the Iranian Plateau Five-toed Jerboa, Allactaga (Dipodidea: Rodentia), Inferred from MtDNA." Mammalia Winter 77.1 (2012): 98. Print.
- ^ Iranian Jerboa (Allactaga firouzi) Archived 2010-10-31 at the Wayback Machine. Edgeofexistence.org (2006-08-09). Retrieved on 2012-12-29.
- ^ Dipodidae – birch mice, jerboas, jumping mice. Wildlife Journal Junior. Nhptv.org. Retrieved on 2012-12-29.
- ^ Ercüment, Colak. "Ecology and Biology of Allactaga Elater, Allactaga Euphratica and Allactaga Williamsi (Rodentia: Dipodidae) in Turkey." Tr. J. of Zoology (1996): 105.Tr. J. of Zoology. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. <http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/issues/zoo-98-22-2/zoo-22-2-3-97042.pdf Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine>.
- ^ Mohammadi, Saeed. "Burrow System of Iranian Jerboa (Allactaga Firouzi Womochel)." Acta Zoológica Mexicana 26.2 (2010): 457. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Sept. 2013.