Mongolian gerbil They are somewhat larger than mice, with a body about long (and a tail of similar length), with a body mass averaging in females and in males. The Mongolian gerbil is classified as a "prohibited new organism" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, preventing it from being imported into the country. The species is also prohibited in the US state of California. "Meriones unguiculatus" evolved on the semideserts and steppes of Mongolia. There, they developed long legs for jumping and running from predators, teeth to deal with hard seeds and plant matter, and water conservation techniques
Mongolian gerbil and kill the mothers' newer pups whilst still in the family unit. The father or older brothers will mate with younger females. These young females have the ability to carry sperm for up to 2 weeks until they are sexually mature (at 3–4 months) so that they can make a family of their own without the interference of another male who may kill the fathers pups. This is why it isn't recommended to keep an older male gerbil with a younger female as a cage mate for a prolonged amount of time. Mongolian gerbil Meriones unguiculatus, the Mongolian gerbil or