Fun Mongolian Gerbil Facts For Kids

The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) from the order Rodentia is a tiny burrowing animal found in the Mongolian highlands. Their range also includes parts of northern China and southern Siberia in Asia. Mongolian gerbils, also called Mongolian jirds, are found in mountain valleys, sandy deserts, grasslands, semi-arid scrublands, and steppes.There are more than 100 species in the gerbils and jird group of rodents in Southeast Asia, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Sri Lanka, and India. Most gerbils live in arid climates across the world like the North African gerbil, the Indian gerbil, also known as the antelope rat. Mongolian gerbils are social animals living in small groups. Mongolian gerbils are the most popular pets in the United States, compared to other gerbil species like the fat-tailed gerbil, pale gerbil, and Shaw’s jird.Mongolian gerbil burrows are usually found in soft soil or clay, near plants to take support of the roots. M. unguiculatus burrows have one nest and two storerooms. The length of burrows is usually 18-24 in (46-61 cm) underground. In the wild, gerbils live in groups and when kept as house pets, they are happy to live in pairs. These rodents are highly intelligent and can memorize mazes. These small animals can also be trained to use a litter box.If you would like to read more fun facts, check out our articles on the gerbil and chinchilla.

What do they prey on? Grass, roots, seeds, and fruits

What do they eat? Herbivore

Average litter size? 4-8 pups

How much do they weigh? 0.13-0.28 lb (60-130 g)

How long are they? 4.3-5.3 in (11-13.5 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Golden agouti, brown, pearl, and dove

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Humans

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Highlands With Extreme Temperature

Locations China, Mongolia, And Russia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Meriones

Class Mammal

Family Muroidea

Mongolian Gerbil Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a Mongolian gerbil?Gerbils belong to the order Rodentia with rats and hamsters. These furry animals are from the genus Meriones. M. unguiculatus or the Mongolian gerbil species belongs to the subfamily Gerbillinae.This scientific name of this species of gerbils means ‘small-clawed warrior’.What class of animal does a Mongolian gerbil belong to?Mongolian gerbils are mammals.How many Mongolian gerbils are there in the world?There are more than 100 gerbil species that live in the wild in different countries. Their burrowing nature, nocturnal habits, and speedy breeding make it difficult to calculate the exact number of gerbils.Where does a Mongolian gerbil live?Mongolian gerbils live in the highlands of inner Mongolia, northern China, and some parts of the Russia. These adaptive wild animals live in deserts, grasslands, shrublands, and semi-arid steppes.Mongolian gerbils, or Mongolian jirds, can tolerate extreme climate due to their natural, rugged habitat. The temperature in their wild habitat can reach up to 122 F (50 C) in summer to -104 (- 40 C) in winter. There is extremely low rainfall and these rodents can survive with not much water.Mongolian gerbils are active at night and search for food after it’s dark.What is a Mongolian gerbil’s habitat?Mongolian gerbils prefer loose sandy soil covered with grass. The presence of vegetation like herbs and shrubs allow them to find food and also to make dark underground burrows. At night these small, brown and furry animals walk, leap, and scamper for food. They run in leaps when they sense any danger. They are active all through the year but during severe winters, they spend their time inside their burrows eating stored food.Who do Mongolian gerbils live with?Mongolian gerbils live in groups of breeding pairs and many other gerbils from previous generations. The family has an alpha male that is larger than any other gerbil in the group. The size of the territory often depends on the size of the alpha male. The number of males in the group is usually less compared to females. Most of a gerbil’s time is spent foraging. These animals prefer to spend their time inside burrows and are inactive during the hottest and the coldest parts of the day. This behavior can be noticed even among pet gerbils.To maintain their fur, gerbils take sand baths to remove excess oil from their body. The oils in the fur help them to absorb sunlight and control body temperature.How long does a Mongolian gerbil live?The lifespan of a Mongolian gerbil is from two to five years. When a gerbil lives for more than two and half years, it is considered to be a senior gerbil.How do they reproduce?Mongolian gerbils are monogamous and their breeding season lasts from February to October. Pregnancy of female gerbils lasts for about 26 days. In every group, only the dominant males are allowed to mate with the dominant females. During the breeding season, the male chases and stomps the female’s feet. Foot stomping is a behavior that is used for warning other gerbils of any danger. Females of this gerbil species have four to eight pups in a litter.The young animals are born blind, without any fur on their body, and are helpless. They are tiny and weigh about 0.005 lb (2.3 g) each. The young gerbils are weaned when they are one and a half months of age. Gerbils reach sexual maturity as soon as two months of age.What is their conservation status?The conservation status of Mongolian gerbils is of the Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List. This rodent species is not under any threat at present.However, in their wild habitat, they experience difficulties from wildfires and these rodents are also killed as pests.Mongolian Gerbil Fun FactsWhat do Mongolian gerbils look like?The natural color in which Mongolian gerbils appear in their natural habitat is called Golden Agouti. This makes them look dark brown or tan from the top with a lighter, off-white underbelly and legs.Since the time when gerbils became popular pets, the gerbil’s coat color also developed color morphs due to mixed breeding. Now they come in dove, argente cream, topaz, sapphire, pink-eyed white, pearl, and slate. Gerbils have long hind feet, fairly large and sensitive ears, and large, almond-shaped expressive eyes. Mongolian gerbils often have tails that are much longer compared to their body. The length of their tails, in most cases, is about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long or the same as their body length.Mongolian gerbils often face misalignment of their incisors and other problems with their teeth. If kept as pets, their teeth require to be clipped by veterinarians at regular intervals.How cute are they?Gerbils are cute but not cuddly pets like cats and dogs. These animals usually do not like to be touched and held for long. Gerbils bond with their owners and may remember a maze but do not show loyal behavior like dogs.A gerbil can sit on your cupped hands and enjoy being scratched behind its ears. Pet gerbils in homes enjoy their own bedding, spacious cages, and food mixed with seeds and grains.How do they communicate?Whether in the wild or the cage, gerbils most often communicate using signs or non-verbal body language. Owners who carefully observe their gerbil’s behavior can understand what their pet is trying to communicate. Some of their body languages indicate happiness, sadness, excitement, or anger. Knowing what a gerbil’s mood is like helps its owners to respond accordingly.Mongolian gerbils often jump when they are excited. Curiosity is often expressed with a straight sitting position with arms on the sides. A happy and relaxed gerbil may purr and vibrate its body when petted and scratched gently.When feeling happy and calm, a Mongolian gerbil may use its tongue to clean or groom its tail, paws, face, and belly inside or the outside of its cage.How big is a Mongolian gerbil?Capybara, the aquatic rodent, is the largest of the order Rodentia. They can grow up to 4.5 ft (1.37 m) in length. Mongolian gerbils that grow up to 5.3 in (13.4 cm) are around 10 times smaller than capybaras.How fast can a Mongolian gerbil run?Gerbils can run at the maximum speed of 6.7 mph (10.8 kph)How much does a Mongolian gerbil weigh?Mongolian gerbils are small animals weighing only 0.13-0.28 lb (60-130 g).What are the male and female names of the species?A male gerbil is called a buck and a female gerbil is called a doe.What would you call a baby Mongolian gerbil?A baby gerbil is called a pup.What do they eat?Mongolian gerbils are herbivores or graminivores, meaning animals that mostly eat grass and plant material. The diet of these rodents mainly includes various types of grass and flowering plants. In their natural habitat, Mongolian gerbils also eat grains, fruits, berries, bulbs, desert plants, and some seeds. Some of their favorites are lyme grass and bristle grass.Since Mongolian gerbils inhabit desert and semi-arid regions, they have adaptation mechanisms to save water. They pass extremely dry stools and condensed urine. They get most of their fluid requirements from the plants they eat.When kept as pets, Mongolian gerbils can be fed seed blends. Commercially prepared blends usually contain seeds, grains, pellets, and some dehydrated vegetables. Mongolian gerbils can also eat treats like apples, melon, carrots, cucumber, pumpkin, and broccoli occasionally.How active are they?Mongolian gerbils are most active during dusk or the twilight period. They forage on grass and seeds during the night in their wild habitats.As pets in homes, they alternate between periods of being highly active and sleeping during the day and night. You can play with them in the day as well as at night when they are awake.Would they make a good pet?Mongolian gerbils make fun pets. They are easy to maintain, are friendly, and can be tamed. These rodents make good pets for children too. They need a cage where at 400 sq in (2580 sq cm) space is provided per animal.They need feeding every day. Their cage should be cleaned regularly. Gerbil toys are a good way to keep gerbils mentally and physically stimulated. Gerbil chew and gnaw-friendly toys are great for these small animals. They enable these little pets to regulate the growth of their teeth. Gerbils are not costly pets. A pair of gerbils may cost around $20. Apart from that, a cage, substrate, toys, bedding, food, and vet are other expenses.Mongolian gerbils are popular small house pets in the United States because they are apartment-friendly, social and gentle, do not bite generally. They have little odor.Did you know…Like other rodents, a gerbil’s teeth grow continuously. They need to chew objects to keep them worn down. Some other rodent pets that are great to keep include the golden hamster, Syrian hamster, Chinese hamster, and guinea pigs!Mongolian gerbils have a sensitive hearing power. They can detect low-frequency noise from a drumming foot to chirps and higher frequency noises.Some believe the Black Death in medieval Europe was spread by great gerbils.In California, gerbils were prohibited as pets until 1963.The first known pet Mongolian gerbil lived in the UK in 1961.Is it cruel to keep gerbils? Gerbils can live happy lives if they are kept in pairs. Mongolian gerbils and fat-tailed gerbils are the two species that are popular as pets and can live in cages. According to the American Gerbil Society, for every gerbil, at least 400 sq in (2580 sq cm) of space should be provided. An ideal cage for a pair of Mongolian gerbils is a minimum 10 gal (45 L) cage.Gerbils should be provided with a quiet environment, good ventilation, food, and water. Bedding, gerbil toys, and mazes can keep gerbils mentally stimulated and well-exercised.Do gerbils bond with their owners? Mongolian gerbils can bond with their owners if they provide care, time, and show them love and affection. Like other pets, they will show loving behavior if you take good care of them. Fun fact: it is possible to help your gerbil learn its name!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our rabbit facts and Arabian leopard facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Mongolian gerbil coloring pages.

What type of animal is a Mongolian gerbil?

Gerbils belong to the order Rodentia with rats and hamsters. These furry animals are from the genus Meriones. M. unguiculatus or the Mongolian gerbil species belongs to the subfamily Gerbillinae.

Fun Mongolian Gerbil Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Grass, roots, seeds, and fruits

What do they eat? Herbivore

Average litter size? 4-8 pups

How much do they weigh? 0.13-0.28 lb (60-130 g)

How long are they? 4.3-5.3 in (11-13.5 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Golden agouti, brown, pearl, and dove

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Humans

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Highlands With Extreme Temperature

Locations China, Mongolia, And Russia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Meriones

Class Mammal

Family Muroidea

Fun Mongolian Gerbil Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Grass, roots, seeds, and fruits

What do they eat? Herbivore

Average litter size? 4-8 pups

How much do they weigh? 0.13-0.28 lb (60-130 g)

How long are they? 4.3-5.3 in (11-13.5 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Golden agouti, brown, pearl, and dove

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Humans

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Highlands With Extreme Temperature

Locations China, Mongolia, And Russia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Meriones

Class Mammal

Family Muroidea

Fun Mongolian Gerbil Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Grass, roots, seeds, and fruits

What do they eat? Herbivore

Average litter size? 4-8 pups

How much do they weigh? 0.13-0.28 lb (60-130 g)

How long are they? 4.3-5.3 in (11-13.5 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Golden agouti, brown, pearl, and dove

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Humans

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Highlands With Extreme Temperature

Locations China, Mongolia, And Russia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Meriones

Class Mammal

Family Muroidea