meriones unguiculatus

2 definitions found

meriones unguiculatus - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Gerbil \Ger"bil\ (j[~e]r"b[i^]l), Gerbille \Ger`bille"\
     (zh[asl]r`b[-e]l"), n. [F. gerbille. Cf. Jerboa.]
     1. (Zool.) One of several species of small, jumping, murine
        burrowing rodents, of the genus Gerbillus and related
        genera of the subfamily Gerbillinae. They have long soft
        pale fur and hind legs adapted for leaping. In their
        leaping powers they resemble the jerboa. They inhabit
        Africa, India, and Southern Europe.
        [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
  
     2. (Zool.) A rodent (Meriones unguiculatus) of the
        subfamily Gerbillinae that is commonly kept as a pet; it
        is also called the tamarisk gerbil, sand rat and
        jird. Its natural habitats are the dry regions of
        Northern Africa and Asia.
        [PJC]

meriones unguiculatus - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Meriones unguiculatus
      n 1: a gerbil that is popular as a pet [syn: tamarisk gerbil,
           Meriones unguiculatus]