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."
Morgan's gerbil mouse breeding season lasts from October to April in much of the range, but is shorter in more southerly, colder, climes. The litters of three to nine young reach sexual maturity at six to eight weeks of age. Individuals rarely live for more than nine months. Morgan's gerbil mouse Morgan's gerbil mouse ("Eligmodontia morgani"), also known as the western Patagonian laucha, is a South American species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is named for J. P. Morgan, one of the sponsors of the expedition that first identified the species. Morgan's gerbil mouse is a slender, mouse-like rodent with large