Mysterious mammal caught on film, the link has videos too:
The long-eared jerboa, a tiny nocturnal mammal that is dwarfed by its enormous ears, can be found in deserts in Mongolia and China.
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Until now, the creatures had proven extremely difficult to study, thanks to their minuscule size, nocturnal nature and the harsh desert environment that they inhabit.
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“These creatures hop just like a kangaroo; it is amazing to watch. Little hairs on their feet, almost like snow shoes, allow them to jump along the sand,” he explained.
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The expedition formed part of ZSL’s Edge programme, which focuses its efforts on conservation plans for animals that are both endangered and evolutionary distinctive. The long-eared jerboa is one of 10 species that the programme is looking at this year.
The Zoological Society of London Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) web site is a great source of all sorts of information. Including more on the Long-Earned Jerboa in the Gobi Desert. Great stuff, they have done a very nice job with their web site - even if they do force people to download the flash player for some material.
