Gerbil Profile

Latin Name: Meriones unguliculatus
Female: Sow
Male: Boar
Young: Pups
Life span: 3-5 years
Litter Size: 3-10 pups
Birth weight: 1-3gms
Eyes open: 17 days
Gestation period: 24-26 days
Average weight: Male 60gms
Female 50gms
Sexual maturity: Male 10-12 weeks
Female 10-12 weeks
Weaning age: 21-24 days
Diet: Omnivorous

In the wild, Mongolian gerbils live in the desert where there is little vegetation, low rainfall and temperatures that fluctuate enormously between summer and winter, and day and night.

The survival of gerbils is based on their burrowing instincts. Burrowing allows them to protect themselves from the extremes in temperature because under the soil, temperatures remain constant.

Gerbil burrows in the wild are a complex array of tunnels, with nests and food storage chambers which allow the gerbil to stay underground for long periods of time.

The gerbil species has evolved to need only limited food and water. Their long hind legs allow them to cover large distances in a harsh habitat in order to collect food. In addition, their bodies require little water as they do not sweat and they re-absorb their liquid intake producing highly concentrated urine and dry feces.

The Latin name for gerbils is meriones unguiculatus which means clawed warrior.