A gerbil is a small mammal of the order Rodentia. Once known simply as "desert rats", the gerbil subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats. Most are primarily diurnal (though some, including the common household pet, do exhibit crepuscular behavior), and almost all are omnivorous.

The word "gerbil" is a diminutive form of "jerboa", though the jerboas are an unrelated group of rodents occupying a similar ecological niche.

One Mongolian species, Meriones unguiculatus, also known as the Clawed Jird, is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular pet. It was first brought from China to Paris, France in the nineteenth century, and became a popular house pet. It was then brought to the United States in 1954 by Dr. Victor Schwentker for use in research.

Gerbils are typically between six and twelve inches (150 to 300 mm) long, including the tail which makes up approximately one half of their total length. One species however, the Great Gerbil, or Rhombomys opimus, originally native to Turkmenistan, can grow to more than 16 inches (400 mm). The average adult gerbil weighs approximately 2½ ounces. As of August 19, 2003, officials in western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began releasing eagles to combat the damage they say the great gerbils have done to eleven million acres (46,000 km²) of grassland.

Life in the desert

The typical Mongolian gerbil is a desert species, and lives underground in a network of tunnels, which include chambers with families. Adults move away and meet others from other chambers, extend the network, create their own chamber, and breed. Gerbils come up for food and water; there is no evidence of hoarding food, but gerbils will eat a lot of fatty foods in one sitting, suggesting supplies in the form of fat reserves rather than food storage. Gerbils do not hibernate and are diurnal. Their long tails help them to balance when they stand up on their hind legs.

Gerbil movement is more like hopping than running, and their large back feet are furry on the bottom to protect them from the heat of the sand. Gerbils are fast but overly inquisitive. In their natural environment, they are mostly insectivores, and additionally gain moisture from desert plants that store water in them. A gerbil has fur all over its body, including the tail, as this prevents it from getting sunburned.

Behavior

Gerbils are social animals, and live in groups in the wild. They rely on their sense of smell to identify other members of their clan. This is why it is important to use what is commonly referred to as the "split tank method" when introducing gerbils from separate litters. Gerbils are known to attack and often kill those carrying an unfamiliar scent.

Classification

SUBFAMILY GERBILLINAE

Tribe Ammodillini

*Genus Ammodillus

**Ammodile, Ammodillus imbellis

Tribe Desmodilliscini

*Genus Desmodilliscus

**Pouched Gerbil, Desmodilliscus braueri

*Genus Pachyuromys

**Fat-tailed Gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi

Tribe Gerbillini

*Subtribe Gerbillina

**Genus Dipodillus

***Botta's Gerbil, Dipodillus bottai

***North African Gerbil, Dipodillus campestris

***Wagner's Gerbil, Dipodillus dasyurus

***Harwood's Gerbil, Dipodillus harwoodi

***James's Gerbil, Dipodillus jamesi

***Lowe's Gerbil, Dipodillus lowei

***Mackilligin's Gerbil, Dipodillus mackilligini

***Greater Short-tailed Gerbil, Dipodillus maghrebi

***Rupicolous Gerbil, Dipodillus rupicola

***Lesser Short-tailed Gerbil, Dipodillus simoni

***Somalian Gerbil, Dipodillus somalicus

***Khartoum Gerbil, Dipodillus stigmonyx

***Kerkennah Islands Gerbil, Dipodillus zakariai

**Genus Gerbillus

***Subgenus Hendecapleura

****Pleasant Gerbil, Gerbillus amoenus

****Brockman's Gerbil, Gerbillus brockmani

****Black-tufted Gerbil, Gerbillus famulus

****Algerian Gerbil, Gerbillus garamantis

****Grobben's Gerbil, Gerbillus grobbeni

****Pygmy Gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi

****Mauritian Gerbil, Gerbillus mauritaniae (sometimes considered a separate genus Monodia)

****Harrison's Gerbil, Gerbillus mesopotamiae

****Barfur Gerbil, Gerbillus muriculus

****Balochistan Gerbil, Gerbillus nanus

****Large Aden Gerbil, Gerbillus poecilops

****Principal Gerbil, Gerbillus principulus

****Least Gerbil, Gerbillus pusillus

****Sand Gerbil, Gerbillus syrticus

****Vivacious Gerbil, Gerbillus vivax

****Waters's Gerbil, Gerbillus watersi

***Subgenus Gerbillus

****Berbera Gerbil, Gerbillus acticola

****Agag Gerbil, Gerbillus agag

****Anderson's Gerbil, Gerbillus andersoni

****Swarthy Gerbil, Gerbillus aquilus

****Burton's Gerbil, Gerbillus burtoni

****Cheesman's Gerbil, Gerbillus cheesmani

****Dongola Gerbil, Gerbillus dongolanus

****Somalia Gerbil, Gerbillus dunni

****Flower's Gerbil, Gerbillus floweri

****Lesser Gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus

****Indian Hairy-footed Gerbil, Gerbillus gleadowi

****Western Gerbil, Gerbillus hesperinus

****Hoogstraal's Gerbil, Gerbillus hoogstraali

****Lataste's Gerbil, Gerbillus latastei

****Sudan Gerbil, Gerbillus nancillus

****Nigerian Gerbil, Gerbillus nigeriae

****Occidental Gerbil, Gerbillus occiduus

****Pale Gerbil, Gerbillus perpallidus

****Cushioned Gerbil, Gerbillus pulvinatus

****Greater Egyptian Gerbil, Gerbillus pyramidum

****Rosalinda Gerbil, Gerbillus rosalinda

****Tarabul's Gerbil, Gerbillus tarabuli

**Genus Microdillus

***Somali Pygmy Gerbil, Microdillus peeli

*Subtribe Rhombomyina

**Genus Brachiones

***Przewalski's Gerbil, Brachiones przewalskii

**Genus Meriones

***Subgenus Meriones

****Tamarisk Jird, Meriones tamariscinus

***Subgenus Parameriones

****Persian Jird, Meriones persicus

****King Jird, Meriones rex

***Subgenus Pallasiomys

****Arabian Jird, Meriones arimalius

****Cheng's Jird, Meriones chengi

****Sundevall's Jird, Meriones crassus

****Dahl's Jird, Meriones dahli

****Moroccan Jird, Meriones grandis

****Libyan Jird, Meriones libycus

****Midday Jird, Meriones meridianus

****Buxton's Jird, Meriones sacramenti

****Shaw's Jird, Meriones shawi

****Tristram's Jird, Meriones tristrami

****Mongolian Jird (Mongolian Gerbil), Meriones unguiculatus

****Vinogradov's Jird, Meriones vinogradovi

****Zarudny's Jird, Meriones zarudnyi

***Subgenus Cheliones

****Indian Desert Jird, Meriones hurrianae

**Genus Psammomys

***Sand Rat, Psammomys obesus

***Thin Sand Rat, Psammomys vexillaris

**Genus Rhombomys

***Great Gerbil, Rhombomys opimus

*incertae sedis

**Genus Sekeetamys

***Bushy-tailed Jird, Sekeetamys calurus

Tribe Gerbillurini

*Genus Desmodillus

**Cape Short-eared Gerbil, Desmodillus auricularis

*Genus Gerbilliscus

**Cape Gerbil, Gerbilliscus afra

**Boehm's Gerbil, Gerbilliscus boehmi

**Highveld Gerbil, Gerbilliscus brantsii

**Guinean Gerbil, Gerbilliscus guineae

**Gorongoza Gerbil, Gerbilliscus inclusus

**Kemp's Gerbil, Gerbilliscus kempi

**Bushveld Gerbil, Gerbilliscus leucogaster

**Black-tailed Gerbil, Gerbilliscus nigricaudus

**Phillips's Gerbil, Gerbilliscus phillipsi

**Fringe-tailed Gerbil, Gerbilliscus robustus

**Savanna Gerbil, Gerbilliscus validus

*Genus Gerbillurus

**Hairy-footed Gerbil, Gerbillurus paeba

**Namib Brush-tailed Gerbil, Gerbillurus setzeri

**Dune Hairy-footed Gerbil, Gerbillurus tytonis

**Bushy-tailed Hairy-footed Gerbil, Gerbillurus vallinus

*Genus Tatera

**Indian Gerbil, Tatera indica

Tribe Taterillini

*Genus Taterillus

**Robbins's Tateril, Taterillus arenarius

**Congo Gerbil, Taterillus congicus

**Emin's Gerbil, Taterillus emini

**Gracile Tateril, Taterillus gracilis

**Harrington's Gerbil, Taterillus harringtoni

**Lake Chad Gerbil, Taterillus lacustris

**Petter's Gerbil, Taterillus petteri

**Senegal Gerbil, Taterillus pygargus

**Tranieri's Tateril, Taterillus tranieri

Gerbils as pets

Gerbils were first introduced to the pet industry in 1964. These were the Mongolia gerbils. Their value as pets was soon appreciated and they are now found in pet shops all over the UK and USA. Due to the threat they pose to indigenous ecosystems and existing agricultural operations, it is illegal to purchase, import, or keep a gerbil as a pet in the U.S. state of California.

Housing in captivity

A common misunderstanding when purchasing a home for pet gerbils is that they can live in housing designed for hamsters and mice. This is not correct as they require the ability to be able to dig tunnel systems, rather than have them created for them. The commonly plastic structures of hamster and mouse cages is inappropriate for gerbils due to their ability to gnaw through it very quickly. Plastic can cause serious health issues for the animal if ingested, therefore many owners refrain from having any plastic in the tank and rely entirely on wooden toys. There is conflicting information from gerbil societies from throughout the globe with regards to tank sizing. However, a common measurement given appears to be 10 imperial gallons per gerbil.

Mating

Gerbils will mate for several hours, in frequent short bursts followed by short chases where the female allows the male to catch her. Once he catches her, the female will squeak and make flick motions to get the male off her. Males will not attack females except in rare circumstances which may also include them having been separated from their original mates, or widowed. A female may attack a male, but usually he is more than a match for her.

Reasons for popularity

There are several reasons for the popularity of gerbils as household pets. The animals are typically non-aggressive, and they rarely bite unprovoked or without stress. They are small and easy to handle, since they are sociable creatures that enjoy the company of humans and other gerbils. Gerbils also have adapted their kidneys to produce a minimum of waste to conserve body fluids which makes them very clean with little odor.

Health concerns

Teeth problems

Misalignment of incisors due to injury or malnutrition may result in overgrowth, which can cause injury to the roof of the mouth. Symptoms include a dropped or loss of appetite, drooling, weight loss, or foul breath. The teeth must be clipped by a veterinarian regularly for as long as required.

Trauma

Common injuries are caused by gerbils being dropped or falling, usually while inside of a "run-about ball", which can cause broken limbs or a fractured spine (for which there is no cure).

Neglect

A common problem for all small rodents is neglect, which can cause the gerbils to not receive adequate food and water, causing serious health concerns, including dehydration, starvation, stomach ulcers, eating of bedding material, and cannibalism. The seizures are thought to be caused by fright, handling, or a new environment. The attacks can be mild to severe but do not typically appear to have any long-term effects, except for rare cases where death results from very severe seizures. Another way to avoid a gerbil having a seizure is to refrain from blowing in the animals face (often used to "train" the pet not to bite), this is used in a lab environment to induce seizures for medical research.

Tumors

Tumors, both benign and malignant, are fairly common in pet gerbils, and are most common in females over the age of 2. Usually, the tumors involve the ovaries, causing an extended abdomen, or the skin, with tumors most often developing around the ears, feet, mid-abdomen, and base of the tail, appearing as a lump or abscess.

Tail sloughing

Gerbils can lose their tails due to improper handling, being attacked by another animal, or getting their tail stuck. The first sign is a loss of fur from the tip of the tail, then, the skinless tail dies off and sloughs, with the stump usually healing without complications.

Captive-bred gerbils

There are many color varieties of gerbil available in pet shops today, generally the result of years of selective breeding.

There are over 20 different coat colors in the Mongolian gerbil, which has been captive-bred the longest.

Another species of gerbil has also been recently introduced to the pet industry: the Fat-tailed Gerbil, or duprasi. They’re smaller than the common Mongolian gerbils and have long soft coats and a short, fat tail, appearing more like a hamster. There is a variation on the normal duprasi coat which is more gray in color, which may be a mutation, or it may be the result of hybrids between the Egyptian and Algerian subspecies of duprasi.

White spotting has been reported in not only the Mongolian Gerbil, but also the Pallid Gerbil and possibly Sundervall's Jird.

A long-haired mutation, a grey agouti or chinchilla mutation, white spotting, and possibly a dilute mutation have also appeared in Shaw's Jirds, and white spotting and a dilute mutation have shown up in Bushy-tailed Jirds.

See also

Jird

Jerboa

Indian Desert Jird

Fat-tailed Gerbil

References

Resources

McKenna, M. C. and S. K. Bell. 1997. Classification of Mammals above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, New York.

Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 1993. Family Muridae. Pp. 501–755 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.

Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.

Pavlinov, I. Ya., Yu. A. Dubrovskiy, O. L. Rossolimo, E. G. Potapova. 1990. Gerbils of the world. Nauka, Moscow.

http://www.research.usf.edu/cm/CMDC/C111_Normative_Biology_Diseases_Gerbils_7_03.pdf

External links

The UK's National Gerbil Society

The Gerbils.com - Everything about the gerbil

eGerbil- For everything gerbil!

American Gerbil Society

Category:Pet rodents Category:Arabic words and phrases Category:Fauna of Central Asia Category:Fauna of Mongolia

Name	Parry Gripp
Background	solo_singer
Born	September 22, 1967 Santa Barbara, California
Instrument	Vocals, Guitar
Genre	Rock
Occupation	Musician
Label	Oglio
Associated acts	Nerf Herder
Url

Parry Gripp (born September 22, 1967) is a singer-songwriter as well as lead vocalist and guitarist for the pop punk band Nerf Herder.

As a songwriter, Gripp is best known for fake jingles, as in his 2005 solo album For Those About to Shop, We Salute You - a 51-track concept album mimicking various musical styles as product commercials. While it does not have one single concept, it goes through many various concept suites, such as trucks, beer, and insomnia. He also maintains a song-of-the-week website and a YouTube channel on which he creates soundtracks to internet memes as well as music videos for his own novelty songs, with titles including "Do You Like Waffles?", "Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom","Last Train to Awesometown", "Spaghetti Cat (I weep for you)", "Hamster on a Piano (Eating Popcorn)" and "Baby Monkey (Going Backwards On A Pig)". Gripp also performs the Super Hero Squad Show theme song.

Gripp also joined forces with MC Lars to perform some of the vocals, including the chorus, to 'Guitar Hero Hero (Beating Guitar Hero Doesn't Make You Slash)' a song commenting on the notion that video games like Guitar Hero take kids away from playing in bands and actually learning their instruments.

Along with faux jingles, Gripp also creates some real advertising music, such as Beatles-inspired tunes promoting the Wawa Food Markets' Breakfast Hoagiefest, and songs for the Hallmark Cards e-characters hoops&yoyo;.

On July 9, 2009 Parry Gripp debuted a new song called "The Girl at the Video Game Store" for the 1000th episode of the G4 TV program Attack of the Show! The video features the show's hosts Olivia Munn as the titular character and Kevin Pereira on drums.

Aside from his music, Gripp is the co-owner (with his sister) of the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, which was founded by his father.

Discography

Albums

"For Those About to Shop, We Salute You" (2005)

"One Donut a Day" (2007)

"Do You Like Waffles" (2008)

"Fuzzy Fuzzy Cute Cute: Volume 1" (2010)

"This is my ringtone." (2011)

"Fuzzy Fuzzy Cute Cute: Volume 2" (forthcoming, expected release date 2012)

Artwork

Nathan Mazur, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based cartoonist, provided the animation for some of Gripp's music videos: "Do You Like Waffles?", "Up Butt Coconut", and "Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom". He also creates the "album art" that accompanies Parry Gripp's song-of-the-week.

See also

Nerf Herder

References

External links

Gripp YouTube channel

Category:1967 births Category:American singer-songwriters Category:Living people