Pygmy Jerboa: The Smallest Rodent in the World
Why are they so popular?
Humans by nature like small furry animals with big eyes. The fact that this is the smallest rodent in the world, doesn't hurt any either. More and more people have started keeping rodents as pets. Rats, gerbils, hamsters and mice are just a few of the rodents people love to have as pets.
Where are Pygmy Jerboas found?
According to ABC News , ""Generally, you find hopping animals in deserts," said Voss. "There's not a lot of overgrowth, so they don't bump into things. Hopping is a very energy-efficient way of avoiding predators." The pygmy jerboa is native to Pakistan and Afghanistan, but it has cousins living from the Sahara Desert to Kazakhstan."
While you can find rodents in nearly every part of the world, these little creatures are found far from the U.S. Some people have adopted them and made them pets, but these are not domesticated animals, they are wild and should stay that way.
How big are Pygmy Jerboas?
Most Pygmy jerboas are about one inch long, not including the tail and weight only about 3 grams. That's very small and why they are called the smallest rodent in the world. They live in burrows and are nocturnal, which means they mainly come out at night.
Most Jerboas are omnivores, meaning they eat anything from insects to plants. They get most of their water from the foods they consume.
Where can I get a pygmy Jerboa?
If you live in Pakistan or Afghanistan or close to the Sahara Desert, they would probably be easy to find. But if you are like me and live in the U.S. you are not likely to find these animals in your neighborhood pet store.
Let's not forget these are wild animals and should stay wild. They are considered vulnerable, but not on the endangered species list. It's better to see wild animals, in the wild and not try to bring them home as a pet.
Not only is it bad for the animals but if you get an animal for a young child and the child decides they no longer want the animal and you as a parent don't want to take care of it any longer, what are most parents going to do with an animal that is so small?
A lot of people would think there's no harm in just letting it go free somewhere, like a park or grassy area. They are so small what impact could such an animal have, right?
Wrong. It's things just like that happening that have led to some places getting over run by non-native species of animals and some law makers are seeking to make it harder to get non-native species of animals because of that.
Sources:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AmazingAnimals/story?id=7687677&page=1
Published by Mary Kirkland
Mary is originally from Redondo Beach, California and now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and daughter. Mary has had extensive experience with small animal care as well as rescuing and re-homing.... View profile
- What is the Difference Between Domestic, Feral and Wild Animals?This article examines the distinctions between domestic, feral and wild animals as well as the nature versus nurture debate by looking at humans' long association with canines.
The Magic of Wild Animals in Folk MedicineFolk medicine uses domestic animals for both natural and magical purposes but wild animals are almost always used for magical purposes. Read on to discover the magic of wild ani...- Native Trees of the Northern TerritoryThe varied climate of the Northern Territory provides the setting for some of the most unique trees in the world. In turn, the trees provide shelter and food for thousands of species of birds, mammals, marsupials and...
- Should Wild Animals Be Kept as Pets? Why it is both illegal and dangerous to keep wild animals as pets.
- Find Where is the Sahara Desert LocatedThe Sahara Desert is one of the hottest places on earth. Find out where it is located.
- Totally Trivial Tuesday - Heaviest and Lightest Animals
- Comparing Rabbit Breeds: Differences and Similarities
- Holiday Gift Guide for 10-Year-Old Girls
- In Indian There Are More Than 500 Type of Wild Animals
- The Galapagos Islands: Conserve These Unique Islands and Their Species
- Can Hair Be Used to Keep Wild Animals Away?
- Camping and Wild Animals: Tips for Survival
- What is a Pygmy Jerboa?
- Where are Pygmy Jerboas found?
- Where can I buy a Pygmy Jerboa?
6 Comments
Post a CommentDown here in Florida, we are overrun with all kinds of critters (and plnats) that people have infected the environment with.
Tiny little guy...
I'm almost glad they are not available -- I hate what's happening with the ferret. I have three. They are LOTS of work if you are to take proper care of them. Trouble is, when people find out they are work, they either ship them off to a shelter of release them (to die) in the wild. One of the worse releases is the "cute" African Clawed Frog (I wrote about those). They take over and kill EVERYTHING ELSE in a pond.
Sorry, I don't do that. Sounds a bit too much like cheating to me. If I comment on an article, it's because I liked it. Thanks anyway :)
If you are interested, I always do comment for comment. You view all the pages of one of my articles and leave a small comment to let me know you were there and I'll come and view all the pages of one of your articles to let you know I was there. We know by the comment. Often my comments have to be just copy and paste or very short, but I'm still reading your content.
Only an inch! That's really tiny. I agree with you that people should not be making pets of wild creatures--it's just not fair to the animal.