Rodents

Rodents make up a large number of the species found in the Arabian Peninsula. Many of these animals are specifically adapted to the harsh climatic conditions encountered in the Peninsula. They are important seed predators and dispersers as well as making up an important part of many an Arabian carnivore's diet.

For a couple of hours a night, the most endearing of all rodents come out to feed. They hop around on their apparently excessively long hind legs and rummage under bushes with their tiny front legs for tasty seeds and shoots. With hind legs four times longer than their front legs and a tail that is two thirds of their body length, they can leap incredible distances - up to 1 metre high and 3 metres long in a single bound.

This 'kangaroo mouse' as it is often known, has developed behaviourally and physiologically to live in one of the most inhospitable habitats on the planet. It is a true desert rodent, to be found even on the least vegetated of sand dunes. The jerboa found on the Arabian Peninsula, Jaculus jaculus, is the most specialised of all jerboa. To prevent sand getting into areas it is not wanted whilst digging, jerboa's have a tough piece of skin that can be drawn over the nostrils. Long hairs at the base of the external ear and long eyelashes prevent sand entering ears and eyes. Their large eyes enable them to make the most of low-light conditions

All-terrain vehicles and animals alike are liable to sink and slide in soft sand. Akin to letting down vehicles tires to increase the surface area, a jerboa's hind toes are spread out and hair grows from the sole and between the toes. This, in effect, increases the surface area, creating more grip on the sand when traveling at speed. It has the added advantage of providing a buffer zone between the hot sand of the desert and the tender sole of the foot.

Jerboas dig incredible burrows 3-4 metres long to a depth of 1-2 metres, complete with escape exits and both winter and summer accommodation. It is very hard to find a jerboa burrow as they cover the entrance day and night. This helps to keep the humidity in their tunnels high, which in turn reduces the temperature in summer and keeps the heat in the winter months. The winter burrows are found closer to the surface where the heat of the sun can warm the burrows. During the hot summer months, jerboas aestivate in deep burrows where the sand is still cool and damp. During aestivation, which is a kind of hibernation, the jerboa's metabolic rate is greatly reduced and the animals go into a kind of deep sleep. The reduction in metabolic rate means the animals can survive on very little energy for a long time, reducing the need to feed. When threatened, jerboa's freeze until the danger is within their flight distance (a distance from danger that the animal still feels safe) then they leap and bound away, changing direction with every bounce, using their tails for balance. Uniquely for rodents, jerboas will run fast bipedally (on two feet) turning at right angles suddenly. Due to this unique way jerboas evade predation, they can travel far from their burrows.

Jerboas have a very specialised diet, eating roots, sprouts, seeds and grains of the plants found on dunes near to the plains where their burrows are. The species of plant eaten will vary at different times of year depending on what is available. Unlike other rodent species, they will not eat invertebrates, therefore making times of low food availability even tougher. This generally occurs in the summer, which is another reason why they aestivate.

Like many true desert animals, jerboas do not need to drink standing water; their metabolism produces enough water from the food they eat. They will however take advantage of water if it is available. A jerboa's kidneys produce highly concentrated urine, extracting as much water as possible without making the urine toxic to the animal. The intestines again extract more water out of the faeces than other species of jerboa.

By extracting as much water from food as possible, combined with excreting the minimal amount of water enables jerboas not to have to be reliable on standing water. Jerboas are therefore found in the most arid of environments.

Without access to clean sand, the Jerboa’s coat will become greasy and streaky. They will maintain patches of sand where they can sand bathe and groom themselves. It is often here where they are less vigilant and are caught. It has many enemies and will form part of the diet of any predator it cannot escape. Foxes, Wildcats, snakes and man will hunt these animals for food.

The range extends throughout the whole of northern Africa from Mauritania through Morocco and Egypt. In the Arabian Peninsula it occurs extensively in areas of shifting sand as well as rocky steppe. The Lesser Jerboa, Jaculus jaculus, occurs in all of the countries in Arabia including Qatar and Bahrain It is common in many areas, however, human activity within its habitat is threatening the survival of this species.

Throughout 1999/2000, sample surveys were done in Sharjah Emirate at known and probable jerboa areas. In all but one area, jerboas had ceased to exist. The cause of this decline is most likely due to people catching these wonderful creatures and habit degradation does not enable the populations to recover. It was noticed that the vegetation was degraded; fewer plants and more invasive species, a sign of over grazed land. The lack of rain over the past few years makes over grazing by donkeys and camels much more apparent. The overall rodent stock was shockingly low in these areas, indicating that the jerboa is not the only species to be suffering.

Canids

Felids

Small Mammals

Ungulates

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