jerboa
Any of a number of species comprising the family Dipodidae, native to the deserts of Asia and northern Africa, being a small, jumping rodent with a long tufted tail, very small forefeet and very long hind legs.
Noun
- Any of a number of species comprising the family Dipodidae, native to the deserts of Asia and northern Africa, being a small, jumping rodent with a long tufted tail, very small forefeet and very long hind legs.
- The Arabs, who are forbidden all other kinds of mice, esteem these the greatest delicacies: as those people often are disappointed in digging after them, they have this proverb, "To buy a hole instead of a jerboa." -...
- The permanent burrows may have emergency exits — side tunnels ending at or near the surface — through which the jerboa "bursts" when threatened by a predator. Jerboas often lie on their side when sleeping in the burrow...
- The small mammals include typical desert forms such as the burrowing rodents of the jerboa family and the jird or gerbil subfamily. The jerboas, which are widespread across northern Africa and central Asia, are...
Origin
From Arabic جَرْبُوع (jarbūʕ) or يَرْبُوع (yarbūʕ). Doublet of gerbil.