Baluchistan Gerbil

biology_ecology

Biology: Little is known on the biology of the Baluchistan gerbil in Jordan. Litter size ranges from 2 – 5.

Systematics, distribution and ecological analysis of rodents in Jordan

description

Habitat: The Baluchistan gerbil was collected from low sandy wadis with considerable salty nature and characterized by rich plant cover of Nitraria retusa or Tamarix sp. in Hazīm and Azraq. It was found coexisting with either one of the large-sized jirds, M. crassus or M. libycus. This gerbil along with G. cheesmani, inhabits the sand dunes of Wādī Ramm mostly around the mud flats, and the salty terrains (Sabkhah) areas in Wādī ‘ Araba (Abu Baker & Amr, 2003 a; b). Openings of borrows for both G. nanus and M. crassus were seen under bushes of N. retusa in Hazīm. Furthermore, Abu Dieyeh (1988) found that burrows of this gerbil were constructed in both hard and loose soil in Wādī ‘ Araba. Activity is at its maximum two hours after dusk (Lewis et al, 1965).

Systematics, distribution and ecological analysis of rodents in Jordan

diagnosis

Diagnosis: This is a small-sized gerbil with soles of feet predominantly naked except for some hair on the metatarsals. Back color is sandy buff slightly grayish (Figure 50). Tail is distinctly discolored, lacking a welldeveloped terminal tuft (less developed than in G. dasyurus). A white rump differentiates this gerbil from its closest relative, G. dasyurus. Belly white with a distinct line of demarcation. The skull is distinguished in that the zygomatic arches touch the auditory meatus and with well inflated bullae (Figure 51). Another distinguishing character is that the base of hairs above the tail are white. Dentition indistinguishable from G. henleyii, except it is larger (Abu Baker & Amr, 2003 a). Localities: Previous records. G. quadrimaculatu s = ‘ Aqaba (Allen, 1915); 14 km S ‘ Aqaba (Kock & Nader, 1983); ‘ Ain Al Atmash, Azraq, Wādī al Khanzair (Qumsiyeh et al, 1986); ‘ Aqaba, Wādī Khanzira (Amr & Disi, 1988); Wādī ‘ Araba, Wādī Ramm (Benda & Sádlová, 1999); Al Hazīm, Al Ghamr, Ash Shawmarī, Azraq, Faydat Ad Dahik, Wādī ‘ Araba (Abu Baker & Amr, 2003 a & b); Wādī Ramm, Ad Dīsah, Al Mudawwarah, Ra’s an Naqb (Abu Baker & Amr, 2004); Ash Shawmarī Wildlife Reserve (Abu Baker

Systematics, distribution and ecological analysis of rodents in Jordan

discussion

Remarks: The distribution of G. n. arabium is restricted to southern Jordan. Many reports indicated the presence of this species in Wādī ‘ Arabah and ‘ Aqabah. G. nanus possesses a 2 N = 52 and FN = 62 (Female specimen). The karyotype consists of 8 submetacentric and 42 acrocentric autosomes. The X is a large submetacentric chromosome (Abu Baker et al., 2009). On the other hand, Qumsiyeh et al. (1986) reported on specimens with 2 n = 52 and FN = 60 collected from Wādī ‘ Arabah ‘ Aqabah, and Azraq.

Systematics, distribution and ecological analysis of rodents in Jordan