The 110 species of gerbil belong to the order Rodentia and
are native to Africa, Asia and India. The gerbil has been domesticated around the
world with the Mongolian variety a popular pet in Europe
and North America. They weigh less than three ounces
when full adults and have a typical length of between six and twelve inches
including their tails.
In the wild, gerbils prefer a desert habitat and spend a lot
of their time digging tunnels under the ground. Diurnal and omnivorous by
nature, domesticated gerbils eat a diet of grains and waste vegetables where
wild gerbils will munch on both vegetation and insect life. Despite spending a lot of time underground,
gerbils are not hibernating creatures.
Gerbils have large wide feet that work well when hopping
through sand dunes. Their fur and typically light coloring are both adaptations
to a hot and sunny climate. Easy to keep
as pets, gerbils are non aggressive but prone to injury and disease and usually
only live a few years in captivity.