Head to head
Fat Sand Rat vs Fat-tailed Gerbil
Fat Sand Rat
VS Fat-tailed Gerbil
The fat sand rat and fat-tailed gerbil are both gerbil-group rodents of North African deserts with the word fat in their names, but the fat refers to very different things.
| Fat Sand Rat | Fat-tailed Gerbil | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Psammomys obesus | Pachyuromys duprasi |
| Range | Desert and semi-desert from North Africa to parts of the Middle East | Desert and semi-desert across parts of North Africa, including Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt |
| Diet | Herbivore, eating almost entirely salty, succulent desert plants such as saltbushes | Omnivore, eating insects and other small invertebrates along with seeds and plant matter |
| What fat means | Readily becomes obese on ordinary rodent food | A short, thick, club-shaped tail that stores fat |
| Daily rhythm | Active during the day, unusual among desert rodents | Nocturnal, sheltering in burrows by day |
| Burrows | Digs burrow systems, often beneath the plants it feeds on | Shelters in burrows by day |
| People | Used as a model for studying type 2 diabetes | Calm and docile, which has made it a popular pet |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Fat Sand Rat vs Fat-tailed Gerbil: common questions
Why is the fat sand rat used in diabetes research?
It readily becomes obese and develops diabetes when fed ordinary, energy-rich rodent food, so it is used as a model for studying type 2 diabetes.
What does the fat in the fat-tailed gerbil's name refer to?
Its short, thick, club-shaped tail, which stores fat that the gerbil draws on when food is scarce.
Which one is active during the day?
The fat sand rat, which is active in the daytime, while the fat-tailed gerbil is nocturnal.