Wildlifeof China
Great Gerbil
Rats, Mice, Voles & Porcupines
Photo: Yuriy75 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Rhombomys opimus
Basic stats
Diet
Leaves, stems and shoots of desert shrubs
Habitat
Clay and sandy desert with shrub vegetation
Range
Central Asia from the Caspian region to northwestern China
Size
Approximately 15–20cm head-and-body length
Weight
Approximately 130–285g
The great gerbil is the largest living gerbil, with a robust body, blunt muzzle, small ears and a relatively short, hairy tail. Its sandy coat blends with the deserts of Central Asia, where its range extends eastward to northwestern China. Adults measure approximately 15–20cm excluding the tail. (Wikipedia, general species account)
Colonies construct extensive communal burrow systems in clay or sandy desert supporting shrubs. Leaves, stems and shoots are clipped and carried underground for storage. Great gerbils are often active by day and maintain social contact through calls, scent and repeated use of shared pathways. (Wikipedia, general species account)
Quick answers
- What does the Great Gerbil eat?
- Leaves, stems and shoots of desert shrubs
- What habitat does the Great Gerbil live in?
- Clay and sandy desert with shrub vegetation
- Where is the Great Gerbil found?
- Central Asia from the Caspian region to northwestern China
- How big is the Great Gerbil?
- Approximately 15–20cm head-and-body length
- How much does the Great Gerbil weigh?
- Approximately 130–285g