Hairy-footed Jerboa

About the Hairy-footed Jerboa

The northern three-toed jerboa (Dipus sagitta) is a species of rodent in the family Dipodidae. It is the only extant species within the genus Dipus. It ranges across Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, China and Mongolia. A common species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature rates it as being of "least concern".

The northern three-toed jerboa has a head-and-body length of 100 to 155 mm (4 to 6 in) and a tail of 145 to 190 mm (5.7 to 7.5 in). The weight is between 56 and 117 g (2 and 4 oz). The upper parts are ochre-brown to reddish-brown, a white band stretches from the base of the tail across the hips, and the underparts are white. The hind feet have three toes, the central three metatarsal bones having fused to form a single structure. They have long white hairs on their upper surfaces and pads of stiff hairs under the toes. The long tail has a terminal tassel which is black with a white tip.

This jerboa has a range extending from the Don River and the Caspian Sea region, through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Northern Iran and Kazakhstan, to Mongolia and Northern China. It lives in sandy deserts and semi-deserts... Wikipedia →