Alias:Meriones tamariscinus,Tamarisk gerbil,Sand rat
Outline:Rodents
Family:Rodentia Cricetidae Gerbil
length:130-190mm
Weight:80~90g
IUCN:LC
Tamarix gerbils belong to the Gerbillinae subfamily. The species-level classification status is stable, with 5 subspecies. Tamarix gerbils are the largest species of the genus Gerbil, mainly active in semi-desert meadows and grass, and also more in dry riverbeds and abandoned farmland. In the living environment, the grass height is generally about 1m, with a coverage of 80%-100%. They are good at digging the soil, and the burrows are densely distributed. In autumn, cut the grass into sections of about 5cm, dry it and store it. It is active at night.
Tamarix gerbils are strictly nocturnal animals. They start their activities at sunset and stop before dawn. They are also active at night in the severe winter when the snow is heavy. They are mainly foraging, and they are agile. They run in and out of many holes overnight, and the number of holes can reach more than 30. Reproduction and feeding activities are most active in spring and summer.
Tamarix gerbils live in burrows, and the burrow structure is relatively simple. The burrow entrances are mostly opened at the roots of bushes or on the slope of small terrain uplifts, and there is soil thrown near the burrows. The rat burrows are divided into temporary and residential burrows. Temporary burrows are very simple, with only 1~2 exits, few burrow branches, and no nest chambers. The first bend of the burrow trunk is usually relatively wide, often with food residues, mainly used to avoid enemies and eat. The residential burrow is more complex, divided into summer and winter use. The main burrow is inclined downward and can be as long as 6m, and it is divided into multiple branch burrows. In summer, the burrow has 2~3 entrances, the burrow has more branches, and there is a nest chamber about 1m deep from the ground, which is in the shape of a shallow basin. There are often food storage paths in the cave, which are blind paths and can be up to 35cm long. The wintering cave also has only 2~3 holes, but the nest is located 2m underground, and there are a lot of bedding in the nest chamber, almost filling the nest chamber. The caves of Tamarix gerbils generally exist alone, and it is rare to see 3~5 holes tied together, let alone forming dense cave groups.
Tamarix gerbils mainly feed on the green parts, seeds and fruits of various herbs and shrubs. Compared with other gerbils, they like to eat foods with higher water content. In early spring and late autumn and early winter, they also feed on animal food such as beetles and ants. Many kinds of crops and weeds in agricultural areas can also become their food. They have the habit of storing food in winter, including wheat, corn, wild oats, alfalfa, etc.
Tamarix gerbils begin to reproduce at the end of March every year and continue until late September, with 2 to 3 litters a year. The first peak of reproduction occurs in late April, and almost all overwintering female mice participate in reproduction. The second peak of reproduction is in July, with 3/4 of female mice participating. The lactation period is about 20 days, and each litter can have up to 10 pups, as few as 2, and an average of 4 to 7. The first batch of pups appeared on the ground at the end of May. About 60 days after the birth of the young mice, the individual weight reaches about 80~90g, which means that they reach sexual maturity and participate in the reproduction in autumn.
In my country, the population of Tamarix gerbils is relatively stable, and there has never been a major outbreak or sharp decline, and its number does not change much from year to year. After the breeding season each year, the population can increase by 2~3 times, and after the harsh conditions of the severe winter, it returns to normal levels. The capture rate of the clamp-day method in Xinjiang generally does not exceed 5%.
Listed in the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ver 3.1 - Least Concern (LC).