Unfortunately, their calculations of Ming's age weren't possible without cracking open the clam's shell, so researchers didn't realize they were in possession of what was likely the world's oldest living animal â until they had already killed it.
Natural history. 1  All gerbils have long hind feet and fairly large ears and eyes, but there is variation among other characteristics. Body form varies from stout and compact to slender and gracile. 2  Most gerbils are nocturnal; a few species, however, are active only in early morning and evening or during the day. Gerbils walk and scamper on all four limbs and flee in running leaps when alarmed. Some construct short, simple burrows, but others construct elaborate underground galleries.
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by activity during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is  nocturnal . Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed senses of hearing, smell, and specially adapted eyesight. Such traits can help animals such as the Helicoverpa zea moths avoid predators.