jerboa

American  

[jer-boh-uh, jer-] / dʒərˈboʊ ə, dʒɛr- /

noun

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

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jerboa British  

/ dʒɜːˈbəʊə /

noun

1. 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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Etymology

Origin of jerboa

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jerboa

With its large ears and whiskered nose, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the jerboa for a mouse … at least from the stomach up.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 23, 2021

From those transcriptomes of mouse and jerboa feet, they were able to narrow the pool of potential genes tied to foot size down by 90%, leaving a total of 1755.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 23, 2021

Indeed, the best footage here is captured at night, from the slinkings of the bizarre horned viper to the evasive tactics of the lesser jerboa, a tiny rodent with kangaroo-like hind legs.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 22, 2013

A type of hopping rodent called the jerboa, native to North Africa and Asia, also has a superlong tail. 

From National Geographic

The lion and the hunting leopard, which may be considered as in this epoch at least, Ethiopian types extend thus far, besides various species of jerboa and other desert-loving forms.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various

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