Scientific name Allactaga tetradactyla Higher classification Allactaga Order Rodent | Family Dipodidae Subgenus ScarturusGloger, 1841 Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Allactaga, Rodent, Small five‑toed j, Dipodidae, Mammal | ||
The four-toed jerboa (Allactaga tetradactyla) is a rodent of the family Dipodidae and genus Allactaga that has four digits. They are native to Egypt and Libya. Four-toed jerboas live in coastal salt marshes and dry deserts.
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Physical appearance
Similar to the other jerboas in the genus Allactaga, the four-toed jerboa are small hopping rodents with large ears and a long tail with a black band near the white, feathery tip. The tail assists and serves as support when the jerboa is standing upright. They have long hind feet and short forelegs. The pelt of the four-toed jerboa is velvety in texture and the upper-parts are speckled black and orange, the rump orange, and the sides gray. The four-toed jerboa hind-limbs have an extra digit compared to other jerboas in the genus Allactaga. The extra digit is smaller in size and nonfunctional compared to the other three digits.
Nutrition
Emerging at night, the four-toed jerboa eats grass, leaves, and soft seeds. The low crown molars and soft palates help the Four-toed Jerboa chew plant material and seeds.
Conservation status
The four-toed jerboa was listed as an animal on the Endangered Species List by the IUCN Red List. They are facing a very high risk of extinction due to habitat loss and restricted range.
