147.

Arabian Jird

Meriones arimalius

French: Mérione d/Arabie / German: Arabien-Rennratte / Spanish: Gerbillo de Arabia

Taxonomy. Meriones arimalius Cheesman & Hinton, 1924,

Djebel Agoula, Yabrin (= Jabrin), Saudi Arabia.

Although synonymized with M. libycus by G. B. Corbet in 1978 and D. L. Harrison and P. J. J. Bates in 1991, M. arimalius was reaccorded species status on morphological grounds by C. F. Nadler and D. M. Lay in 1967, I. Ya. Pavlinov and colleagues in 1990, and G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005. No genetic data are yet available and, pending further revisions of genus, the taxon is retained as valid. Monotypic.

Distribution. C & SE Arabia (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Oman); distribution poorly known.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 132 mm, tail 163 mm, ear 18 mm, hindfoot 37 mm (type-specimen measurements only). No specific data available for body weight. The Arabian Jird is very pallid, with sandy-cream dorsum and pure white venter. Fur is short and thin. Tail is ivory to yellow in color, with a white tuft of hairs at end, and is longer than head-body length. As with the Libyan Jird ( M. libycus), skull exhibits voluminous tympanic bullae with mastoid part inflated.

Habitat. Sand dunes of Great South Desert of Arabia with Arthrocnemum fruticosum ( Amaranthaceae) bushes and soft white sands.

Food and Feeding. The Arabian Jird appears to feed exclusively on seeds of A. fruticosum bushes.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Arabian Jirds have been seen to be active during day, except during hottest hours (around midday). They are terrestrial, digging complex burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Arabian Jirds are shy, and take refuge in burrows after one individual gives alarm call.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Despite its small area of distribution, the Arabian Jird is not considered threatened.

Bibliography. Corbet (1978), Harrison & Bates (1991), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nadler & Lay (1967), Pavlinov et al. (1990).