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jerboa

American

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

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 British

/ dʒɜːˈbəʊə /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of jerboa

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The team identified a gene called shox2, for example, that is expressed in the jerboa feet, but not in mouse feet.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 23, 2021

Other genes with different expression in the jerboa were ones that are ordinarily associated with turning off bone growth in mice.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 23, 2021

Thankfully, there are enough silly baby animals in Life Story to refocus your attention, such as the jerboa, which jumps at every noise its huge ears detect.

From The Guardian • Oct. 18, 2014

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

From National Geographic

The genera are, the porcupine, cavy, beaver, bat, marmot, squirrel, dormouse, jerboa, and hare. 5th.

From Domestic Pleasures, or, the Happy Fire-side by Vaux, Frances Bowyer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023