Mongolian gerbil Mongolian gerbil Meriones unguiculatus, the Mongolian gerbil or Mongolian jird, is a small rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. It is the most widely known species of the gerbil subfamily, and is the most commonly kept as a small house pet or experimental animal. Under those conditions, it is known as the domesticated gerbil. Like the Syrian or golden hamster, it was first brought to the United States in 1954 by Dr. Victor Schwentker for use in scientific research. Forty-four pairs were caught in Mongolia and brought to England. They were described as having "squirrel colors... with long furry tails."
Botta's gerbil was first described by the French zoologist and herpetologist Fernand Lataste in 1882, he named it "Gerbillus bottai". It is known from a small number of locations in Sudan, between the Blue Nile and the White Nile to the south of Khartoum, with some possible sightings in northern Kenya. It may form part of a species complex alongside the Khartoum gerbil ("Dipodillus stigmonyx"), Harwood's gerbil ("Dipodillus harwoodi"), and Waters's gerbil ("Gerbillus watersi") . However, "D. harwoodi" has a separate range in Kenya about to the south of the other three species and further investigation may elevate it to full species