Small jerboa

Small in size, body length 5-15 cm, tail 7-25 cm, weight 44-73 g. The tail is long, eyes and hind limbs are large. The back is dark to dark gray. The sides are light, swarthy yellow. Neck, chest, belly snow-white. Has long vibrissa. There are five fingers on the paws.

Distribution countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. Inhabits desert and semi-desert regions. Avoid open spaces and dense vegetation. This species is found in some degraded places of residence and on the outskirts of agricultural areas.

It travels at speeds up to 48 km / h. It feeds on various herbs, seeds and insects. Leads a secretive lifestyle, active at dusk and at night. Lives in burrows up to 2 m long and up to 70 cm deep. For most of its range, it spends in hibernation for about four months (from mid-November to mid-March), but does not hibernate in Transcaucasia. The reproductive period begins after hibernation (in Transcaucasia in February). There are two reproductive peaks in April and in August-September. It has 2-3 offspring a year with 2-6 cubs in a brood.

It has no serious threats. This species is found in many conservation areas.

• Shenbrot, G., Tsytsulina, K., Batsaikhan, N., Avirmed, D., Tinnin, D., Sukhchuluun, G. & Lkhagvasuren, D. 2008. Allactaga elater
• Andrew T. Smith, Yan Xie, Robert S. Hoffmann, Darrin Lunde, John MacKinnon, Don E. Wilson, W. Chris Wozencraft A Guide to the Mammals of China, Princeton University Press, 2010 Google Books