jerboa

[ jer-boh-uh, jer- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of various mouselike rodents of North Africa and Asia, as of the genera Jaculus and Dipus, with long hind legs used for jumping.

jerboa

/ dʒɜːˈbəʊə /

any small nocturnal burrowing rodent of the family Dipodidae, inhabiting dry regions of Asia and N Africa, having pale sandy fur, large ears, and long hind legs specialized for jumping

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Origin of jerboa¹

1655–65; < New Latin < Arabic yarbūʿ; gerbil

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Origin of jerboa¹

C17: from New Latin, from Arabic yarbū`

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In the leaping kangaroo and jerboa a shortening of the arms and lengthening of the legs appear.

Their hind-legs are much shorter than those of the jerboa, and their tail is garnished with but a few short, stiff hairs.

A double parallel to this modification is seen in the jerboa among the ungulates, and in the kangaroo among the marsupials.

This fox lives chiefly on the jerboa-rat (Gerbillus Indicus) common on sandy plains.

This family contains a form of rodent similar to, yet more pronounced than, the jerboa rats, of which I have already treated.

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