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Habitat and Behaviour The Fat-tailed Gerbil lives on gravel plains
(hamada) with patches of low vegetation. Its main food is insects, but
it probably includes some plant foods in its diet. It is thought to breed
throughout the year. Litters comprise 3–5 pups.
Distribution and Status This species is distributed across the
northern Sahara from Morocco to Egypt.
JIRDS Meriones spp.
At least 11 species of jird occur across the region; some are very
widespread while others are localized. Most species are larger than
the biggest gerbils. Their tails are well haired, with longer hair towards
the tip forming either a tuft or a crest. The coat colour varies from
yellowish-buff and fawn to various shades of brown. The underparts
are always paler, and in a number of species they are white. Jirds are
more rat-like than gerbils, and have narrow ears. Their tails are about
half of their total length, which is 19–38 cm. They weigh 30–100 g.
Jirds occupy a wide variety of habitats that include sand and
gravel desert, grassland and cultivated areas. All dig their own
burrows, which can be very long and complex; within these there
are lined nest chambers as well as food-storage areas. Some jirds
live in colonies of varying density, while others have limited social
contact. Some species are seasonal breeders; others may have young
at any time of the year. Gestation varies between 20 and 30 days,
litters number 1–9, and a female may have several litters in a season.
Two of the most widespread species across North Africa and the
Middle East are the Libyan Jird (Meriones libycus) and Sundevall’s Jird
( M. crassus).
FAT SAND RAT Psammomys obesus
Identification This rather stout species has a fully haired, thick tail
with a distinct black tuft of long hair towards the tip. The overall
colour varies from reddish-brown to sandy-buff, with paler underparts.
Size Total length 24–33 cm.
Habitat and Behaviour This species’ habitat choice seems to be
limited by the availability of the succulent plants that provide much
of its food in desert areas, whether these be sandy or rocky. It digs
complicated burrow systems and lives in colonies. In areas where it
occurs at high densities it is easy to observe because it is active during
the day. Fat Sand Rats probably breed throughout the year, and litter
size is usually 2–5 pups.
Distribution and Status The species occurs widely across much of
the Sahara and its fringes from Algeria to Sudan and north-western
Arabia, and there are scattered populations on the outer fringes of
Saudi Arabia.