Libyan Jird

Coat and looks how to spot one

Fine, dense fur; furred tail about as long as the body

A medium-sized jird with soft, dense fur and a tail roughly the same length as its head and body. The tail is light brown for most of its length and turns dark brown to blackish over the last third. It has dark claws, partly furred hind soles and a slightly narrower head than many other gerbils.12

Personality what they are like

An alert, quick-moving jird that dashes from cover to cover when out in the open. Individuals tend to be calm, but they have strong opinions about group mates, so they do best with carefully chosen companions.2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Mainly active by day in many accounts, although some sources also describe night activity. Wild jirds dig deep tunnel systems, so plenty of substrate for digging keeps them busy.12

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Needs no coat grooming. Provide deep, diggable bedding and refresh it as needed, and check food stores regularly.1

Home where they are happiest

Wild animals live in burrows up to about 1.5 m deep with several entrances, in dry shrubland, wadis, floodplains and areas with stable dunes. A secure enclosure with deep substrate for tunnelling suits this lifestyle.1

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Mainly a seed eater, especially grass seeds, with leaves, bulbs, tubers and juicy desert fruits; it will also eat insects it finds.12

Company who they like around

Lives alone or in small colonies in the wild and is more sociable in winter. In captivity, groups can squabble, so pairings should be made carefully and watched.12

The story where it all began

The Libyan jird was scientifically named by Hinrich Lichtenstein in 1823. It has one of the largest ranges of any jird, stretching from the Atlantic coast of North Africa to western China.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Wild species assessed as Least Concern1