Great Gerbil

The great gerbil is a species of rodent of the hamster family that is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere. This animal is distinguished by its beauty and grace, and is also an important participant in the natural ecosystem. There is almost no threat to its existence, but it is necessary to create conditions for the habitat of this species. Let's look at the features of the great gerbil and figure out why it needs our protection.

The large gerbil lives in meadows, fields, on the banks of lakes and rivers, in thickets of bushes, and can quickly adapt to new environmental conditions. It eats mainly plant foods, including grains, seeds, fruits and vegetables. The rodent can travel long distances, which helps it avoid potential threats and expand its habitat.

This species was widely known in the Middle Ages, which is why it got its name from the Mongolian word "graus" or "hamster". However, the modern scientific name is "rhombomys opimus", literally translated as "square or diamond-shaped hamster". Rodents have thick soft fur of brownish shades, which allows them to camouflage well in the environment. You can also notice white hairs on the tail, which visually make the sandbox look like a fox. The animal reaches a length of about 30 cm, weight can range from 250 to 460 grams.