Head to head
Mongolian Gerbil vs Great Gerbil
Mongolian Gerbil
VS Great Gerbil
The Mongolian gerbil and great gerbil are both Central Asian gerbils that live in burrows, but one is a small family-group pet species and the other a large colony-builder with a medical role.
| Mongolian Gerbil | Great Gerbil | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Meriones unguiculatus | Rhombomys opimus |
| Size | A small gerbil, widely kept as a pet | One of the largest gerbils |
| Living arrangement | Family groups sharing a burrow system | Large colonies of burrows with many entrances |
| Burrow signs | Digs extensive burrows in dry steppe | Visible mounds of excavated soil at the entrances |
| Diet | Seeds, roots, and plant matter | Desert shrubs, grasses, and seeds |
| Human link | Widely kept as a pet and used in research | Monitored as a natural reservoir of plague |
| Native range | Mongolia and northern China | Desert Central Asia, from Kazakhstan to Iran and China |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Mongolian Gerbil vs Great Gerbil: common questions
Which is bigger, the Mongolian gerbil or the great gerbil?
The great gerbil, which is one of the largest gerbils, while the Mongolian gerbil is a small gerbil widely kept as a pet.
Why are great gerbils important to disease researchers?
They are one of the main natural reservoirs of the plague bacterium in Central Asia, so scientists monitor their populations.
How do their burrows differ?
Mongolian gerbils live in family groups sharing a burrow system, while great gerbils build large colonies of burrows with many entrances, marked by mounds of excavated soil.