Photographs of Harris' Hawks feeding their young and the birds on the Arizona desert and other parts of the state

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TID-BITS

07/18/06

CLAWED JIRD

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The Mongolian Gerbil, also called the Clawed Jird, is one of more than 100 gerbil species found in Africa and Asia. This little fellow, sometimes referred to as the "Warrior With Claws" originated from eastern Mongolia where it was discovered in 1867 by European Explorers. It was brought into the United States in 1954 as a lab animal and introduced into the pet trade by the 1960's. Their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives and are great for gnawing. They have a long tail that is fully furred with a soft tuft at the end. Their kangaroo-like hind legs are great for jumping and if they fall a short distance they will almost always land on their feet. As a fear response, they will also thump with their hind feet. They live about 3 to 4 years which is a bit longer than mice, rats, or hamsters who generally live for 2 to 3 years.

One Mongolian species, Meriones unguiculatus, also known as the Clawed Jird, is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular pet. It was first brought to the United States in 1954 by Dr. Victor Schwentker for use in research.

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