View source for Indian desert jird

{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{more footnotes|date=May 2012}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Indian Desert Jird.jpeg
| image_caption = At [[Tal Chhapar Sanctuary]], Churu District, Rajasthan, India
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=S. Chakraborty |author2=P. O. Nameer |author3=S. Molur |name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/13163/0 |title=''Meriones hurrianae'' |access-date=May 19, 2012 }}</ref>
| genus = Meriones
| species = hurrianae
| authority = [[T. C. Jerdon|Jerdon]], 1867<ref name=iucn />
}}
The '''Indian desert jird''' or '''Indian desert gerbil''' ('''''Meriones hurrianae''''')  is a species of [[jird]] found mainly in the [[Thar Desert]] in India. Jirds are closely related to [[Gerbillus|gerbil]]s.
==Distribution==
The Indian desert jird is found in southeastern [[Iran]] and [[Pakistan]] to northwestern [[India]]. In India they can be found in [[Rajasthan]] and [[Gujarat]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Prakash, Ishwar|url=http://www.cazri.res.in/publications/KrishiKosh/28-(ECOLOGY%20OF%20THE%20INDIAN%20DESERT%20GERBIL).pdf|title=Ecology of the Indian Desert Gerbil, Meriones hurrianae|year=1981|place=Jodhpur|publisher=Central Arid Zone Research Institute}}</ref>
==Description==
[[File:AB071 Merionis hurrianae.JPG|thumb|left|Meriones hurrianae]]
The Indian desert jird has a grey-brown coat with yellowish-grey belly. It is approximately {{convert|12|-|14|cm}} long and has a tail {{convert|10|-|15|cm|abbr=on}} long. The distinguishing characteristics include short ears, long black claws and orange incisors.
==Habitat==
Jirds inhabit desert and barren areas preferring firm soil. They are not to be found in pure sand dunes or rocky outcrops.
[[File:Desert Jird Desert NP Jaisalmer.jpg|thumb|Desert jird found at Desert National Park, [[Jaisalmer]], [[Rajasthan]]]]
==Habits==
The jirds are gregarious and their burrows are seen close by. Each jird will have at least two or more entrances to his burrow complex. Often the entrance is in the shade of a tree or near the trunk of bushes. They feed on seeds, roots, nuts, grasses and insects.
==Difference between 'jirds' and 'gerbils'==
Jirds are closely related to gerbils but can be distinguished by the lack of long hind feet and the characteristic erect posture of a gerbil. The tail of a jird is generally shorter than the head and body. It also has much shorter ears. In addition, the Indian desert jird is diurnal, in comparison to the three common gerbil species found in India which are nocturnal.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.gerbil-info.com/html/indian_hairy-footed_gerbil.htm Indian hairy-footed gerbil - gerbil-info.com]
*{{Commons category-inline|Meriones hurrianae|''Meriones hurrianae''}}
{{Gerbillinae|G1.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1770166}}
[[Category:Meriones (rodent)]]
[[Category:Mammals of Asia]]
[[Category:Rodents of India]]
[[Category:Rodents of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Fauna of Iran|Jird, Indian Desert]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1867]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Thar Desert]]
[[Category:Fauna of Sindh]]