About Gerbillus cheesmani Thomas, 1919
Taxonomy and Similar Species
Cheesman's gerbil, Gerbillus cheesmani Thomas, 1919, is similar in appearance to the lesser Egyptian gerbil (Gerbillus gerbillus) and Anderson's gerbil (Gerbillus andersoni).
Size Measurements
Its head-and-body length ranges between 70 and 110 mm (2.8 and 4.3 in), while its tail length measures between 90 and 135 mm (3.5 and 5.3 in).
Foot Morphology
Like the two similar species, the soles of its feet are covered in hair.
Coloration
Its upper body fur is orange-brown, and its underparts are white.
Geographic Distribution
Cheesman's gerbil is native to the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. Its known range includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Jordan.
Habitat Type
Its natural habitat consists of arid plains with sandy soils, deserts, and flat coastal salt pans called sabkha.
Associated Vegetation
It is commonly found in areas where Haloxylon, Calligonum, Ephedra alata and Artemisia plants grow.
Activity Pattern
This is a nocturnal species.
Foraging and Diet
It stays in a burrow to avoid daytime heat, and emerges at night to forage for seeds and grasses, though it may become omnivorous in some situations.
Locomotion Adaptations
The hair on the soles of its feet is an adaptation for running across sand, and the species is also capable of making long leaps.
Moisture Conservation Strategies
By feeding at night, it can utilize dew on plants, and it conserves moisture by producing dry faeces and very little urine. It carries damp vegetation back to its burrow, which raises the humidity inside the burrow.
Burrow Entrance Characteristics
The burrow entrance is often located at the base of a shrubby plant. When the gerbil enters the burrow, it closes the entrance by flicking sand across it with its tail.
Predators
It is preyed on by predators including owls, the Arabian red fox, and Rüppell's fox.
