Long-eared Jerboa

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Long-eared Jerboa
Fossil range: Recent
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Dipodidae
Subfamily: Euchoreutinae
Lyon, 1901
Genus: Euchoreutes
Sclater, 1891
Species: E. naso
Binomial name
Euchoreutes naso
Sclater, 1891

The Long-eared Jerboa, Euchoreutes naso, is a nocturnal mouse-like rodent with a long tail, long hind legs for jumping, and exceptionally large ears. It is distinct enough that authorities consider it to be the only member of both its genus, Euchoreutes, and subfamily, Euchoreutinae. In Russian media and articles it is sometimes called "shooshpanchik".

It has been reported in China and in ten localities in desert habitats of Trans Altai Govi Desert and the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. A large part of the species is believed to occur in Mongolia within protected areas. Very little is known about the species.

[edit] Conservation

The Long-eared jerboa was identified as one of the top-10 "focal species" in 2007 by the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) project.[1] EDGE identifies species that are evolutionarily distinct and need better protection to prevent extinction. The Long-eared Jerboa was placed in the top-10 along with Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew, Attenborough's Long-beaked Echidna, Hispaniolan Solenodon, Yangtze River dolphin, Slender loris, Hirola antelope, Pygmy Hippo, Bumblebee bat, and the Bactrian camel.[2]

In 2007 Zoological Society of London EDGE of Existence Programme sent a researcher to study human impact on its environment. The study returned with video footage that been noted as the "first time" the creature has been "recorded on camera" [2]. This has helped to start a campaign to protect them. [3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Protection for 'weirdest' species", BBC, 2007-01-16. Retrieved on 2007-05-22. 
  2. ^ Hexaprotodon liberiensis. EDGE Species. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
  3. ^ [1].
  • Holden, M. E. and G. G. Musser. 2005. Family Dipodidae. Pp. 871-893 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
  • Baillie, J. (1996). Euchoreutes naso. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 4 February 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered

[edit] External links