| Jerboas
By Sheri Skelton |
|
Jerboas
are tiny rodents that live in the deserts in Asia and Africa. They look
like they might be part kangaroo and part mouse. Jerboas have short
front legs. Their hind legs are big and strong. The word "jerboa" comes
from the Arabic word "yerbo," which means "big thighs." Jerboas use
their strong legs to jump. They can jump as far as ten feet in one jump.
That is an amazing distance for such a tiny animal. Jerboas are about
six inches long and weigh two and a half ounces.2 Jerboas have long tails. Sometimes their tails are ten inches long. Their tails have a little bunch of white hairs at the tip. Jerboas use their tails to steer themselves when they jump. They also use their tails to balance themselves when they sit.
3 Jerboas make four different burrows for themselves. Two look like plain tubes. They are temporary burrows. Jerboas use these burrows to get away from predators. The other two burrows are permanent ones. These burrows are hidden. They also are not simple in design. They have many entrances and little rooms on several different levels. There are rooms for storing food and for sleeping. Some kinds of jerboas crawl into their burrows and hibernate during the winter. Others hibernate during the very hot months of the summer.
4 Jerboas are nocturnal. They go out at night to look for food. Jerboas eat plants, seeds, and insects. Jerboas don't need to drink water to survive. They can get enough water from the plants they eat. Jerboas are just one of the many kinds of animals that have adapted to living in the desert.
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1. What two animals do you think Jerboas look like they might be a combination o?
2. Jerboas get their name from an Arabic word that means_________________.
3. What do jerboas use their tails for?
4. What do Jerboas use temporary burrows for?
5. Do some jerboas hibernate during winter while others hibernate during summer?
