Shaw's jird (Meriones shawi) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. Its natural habitats are arable land, pastureland, and rural gardens.
| Shaw's jird | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Meriones |
| Species: | M. shawi
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| Binomial name | |
| Meriones shawi (Duvernoy, 1842)
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Shaw's jird is able to survive long periods of dehydration in semi-desert regions where it lives, in part because of its well developed kidneys.[1] Shaw's jird can mate 224 times in two hours.[2] During the rainy season, Shaw's jirds breed more compared to summer when there is less rain.[3] They typically live 1–2 years.[4] In the Algerian highlands, they are a main prey source for Barn owls.[5]
References
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Wikispecies has information related to Meriones shawi.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meriones shawi.
- ^ Elgot, Abdeljalil; El hiba, Omar; Gamrani, Halima (2012-10-01). "The anxiogenic-like effects of dehydration in a semi-desert rodent Meriones shawi indicating the possible involvement of the serotoninergic system". Acta Histochemica. 114 (6): 603–607. doi:10.1016/j.acthis.2011.11.005. ISSN 0065-1281. PMID 22172710.
- ^ "Reproduction (Part of the Extreme Mammals exhibition.)". American Museum of National History.
- ^ Zaime, Abdelkader; Gautier, Jean-Yves (March 1987). "Variations of Density and Spatial Occupation in 3 Rodent Species in a Semi-Arid Area of Morocco". 1st European Meeting "The Rodent and Its Environment" ("Le Rongeur et l'Espace"). Mammalia. 51. Lyon, France: Universite Claude-Bernard: 478.
- ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
- ^ Doumandji, S.; Denys, C.; Ababsa, L.; Guezoul, O.; Benbouzid, N.; Guerzou, A.; Souttou, K.; Sekour, M. (June 2014). "[Importance of Shaw's Jird Meriones shawii within the trophic components of the Barn Owl Tyto alba in steppic areas of Algeria]" (PDF). Comptes Rendus Biologies. 337 (6): 405–415. doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2014.04.005. ISSN 1631-0691. PMID 24961561.
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