Dipodidae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
Author
Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
text
2017
2017-11-30
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II
81
100
book chapter
60686
10.5281/zenodo.6591722
9d33d7df-dc06-426e-8945-d99b967af193
978-84-16728-04-6
6591722
27.
Mongolian Three-toed Jerboa
Stylodipus andrewsi
French:
Gerboise dAndrews
/
German:
Ostliche Dickschwanzspringmaus
/
Spanish:
Jerbo tridactilo de Mongolia
Other common names:
Andrews's Three-toed Jerboa
,
Mongolian Jerboa
Taxonomy.
Stylodipus andrews: G. M. Allen, 1925
,
Ussuk
,
Ovorhangay Aimag
,
Mongolia
.
Based on DNA analysis, J. Pisano and colleagues in 2015 demonstrated that S. andrews: was the basal branch of the
Stylodipus
clade. Monotypic.
Distribution.
Mongolia and N China (N Gansu, Inner Mongolia [= Nei Mongol], and Ningxia).
Descriptive notes.
Head-body 120-135 mm, tail 140-165 mm, ear 16-19 mm, hindfoot 50-58 mm; weight 60-95 g. Head and dorsum of the Mongolian Three-toed Jerboa are sandy gray with a touch of reddish brown; sides and ventral pelage are pure white; white patch behind earis well expressed; and tail is fatty in adults, with slightly flattened dark-gray terminal tuft not forming a banner. Toes of hindfeet are covered from below with brushes of relatively short soft hairs; external hairs of brush are white and internally black or dark brown. Front surfaces of incisors are white. P' is present. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 58 and FN = 94.
Habitat.
Salt depressions among coarse-gravel, low-mountain semi-desert and desert.
Food and Feeding.
Diet of the Mongolian Three-toedJerboa contains seeds (42% by volume), green plant material (30%), and roots and bulbs (28%); insects are rarely eaten.
Breeding.
Breeding of Mongolian Three-toed Jerboas occurs in July-August. Litters have 2-8 young, usually 4-6. Most overwintering females produce one litter per year, but a few can produce two litters. Sexual maturity occurs at 10-11 months of age,after overwintering.
Activity patterns.
The Mongolian Three-toedJerboa is nocturnal. Hibernation starts in September. Dates of the end of hibernation are not known.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
Burrows of Mongolian Three-toed Jerboas have one main entrance, 1-3 emergency entrances, and one nest chamber 10 cm in diameter and 40 cm deep; total length of tunnels is ¢.300 cm. Night shelter burrows are simple, with one tunnel c.100 cm in length, passing from the ground’s surface to depths of 40-50 cm. One individual can have 4-6 shelter burrowsin its home range.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography.
Pisano et al. (2015), Sokolov, Lobachev & Orlov (1998), Zhang Yongzu et al. (1997).