Head to head
Shaw's Jird vs Mongolian Gerbil
Shaw's Jird
VS Mongolian Gerbil
Shaw's jird and the Mongolian gerbil belong to the same genus, Meriones, but one is a North African steppe burrower and the other a Central Asian species that has become a familiar pet and laboratory animal.
| Shaw's Jird | Mongolian Gerbil | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Meriones shawi | Meriones unguiculatus |
| Group | A jird in the genus Meriones | Also in Meriones, known as the clawed jird |
| Range | Semi-arid steppe, scrub, and farmland across North Africa from Morocco to Egypt | Dry steppe and semi-desert in Mongolia and northern China |
| Tail | Long and tufted | Long and tufted, used for balance when standing upright |
| Burrows | Digs burrows with several chambers and entrances, where it shelters and stores food | Digs extensive burrows in sandy, dry grassland, shared by a family group |
| Alarm signal | Not specifically documented | Thumps its hind feet rapidly on the ground to warn others of danger |
| People | A pest of cereal crops and stored grain, and found to carry the parasite that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis | Widely kept as a pet and used in research |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Shaw's Jird vs Mongolian Gerbil: common questions
Are Shaw's jird and the Mongolian gerbil related?
Yes, both belong to the genus Meriones, and the Mongolian gerbil is also known as the clawed jird.
Which one is a farm pest?
Shaw's jird, which feeds on cereal crops and stored grain and is regarded as an agricultural pest in places.
Which one is kept as a pet?
The Mongolian gerbil, which is widely kept as a pet and used in research.