Long-Eared Jerboa

Posted on December 13, 2007  Comments (0)

photo of a long eared jerboa

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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