Lesser Egyptian Jerboa

The lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus, is a hopping desert rodent of North Africa. It ranges across the Sahara and its margins, from Morocco to Egypt and Sudan, and on into Arabia and the Middle East. It has a body about 10 cm long, a tail of up to 25 cm with a black and white tip, sandy upperparts and a white belly, and it weighs 43 to 73 grams. It is easily confused with other Jaculus species, so zoos and researchers confirm identification before pairing animals.

In the United States, 42 CFR 71.56 has barred importing rodents obtained from Africa or native to Africa since November 2003, when African rodents imported as pets spread monkeypox to prairie dogs and then to people. The CDC can give written permission only for scientific, exhibition or educational purposes, so this species is not imported as a pet, and state rules can add further limits. In captivity it lives about 5 to 6 years. It needs a dry, escape-proof enclosure with deep digging sand and room to leap, a quiet nocturnal routine, a diet of seeds and plants with some insects, and minimal handling.

Colors: Sandy with White Underside