Meriones (Pallasiomys) libycus Thomas, 1919

Amr, Zuhair S., Abu, Mohammad A., Qumsiyeh, Mazin & Eid, Ehab, 2018, Systematics, distribution and ecological analysis of rodents in Jordan, Zootaxa 4397 (1), pp. 1-94 : 50-52

Meriones (Pallasiomys) libycus Thomas, 1919

Common name: Libyan jird.

Diagnosis: Large jird. Fur color brown yellowish dorsally with some black speckling, ventral color white. Ears are not pigmented. Tail reddish with black tuft ( Figure 56 ). Claws black. Hindfeet with partially hairy soles. Skull robust. Tympanic bullae large, extending beyond surpraoccipital, acessory tympanum present. Form of the suprameatal triangle of bullae distinguishes this species from M. crassus , in being smaller and nearly closed at its posterior end. Upper incisors with anterior median groove ( Figure 57 ).

Localities: Previous records. AI-Jafr, Al-Mahammadia, Azraq, Qaşr al Ḩallābāt, Al Qaţrānah, ( Amr & Disi, 1988); Al Hazīm, Azraq ash Shīshān, Al Wisad ( Abu Baker & Amr, 2003b); Ad Dīsah (Abu Baker & Amr, 2004); Ash Shawmarī Wildlife Reserve ( Abu Baker et al., 2005). Materials from owl pellets. Azraq Nature Reserve (Shehab & Ciach, 2008); Qaşr Al Kharanah (Obuch per. com.), Qaşr al Ḩallābāt (Obuch per. com.), Burqu' (Obuch per. com.), Ash Shawmarī Wildlife Reserve (Obuch per. com.). New records. Omish, Swaqa, Bāyir ( Figure 58 ).

Habitat: The Libyan jird is common all over the Syrian Desert; sharing its habitat with related species. It is known in Wādī ‘Araba and southern Jordan. Colonies are constructed in hard soil with abundant vegetation. Burrows are very complex and consist of many openings, nest and food chambers. Atallah (1977) reported that it feeds on Citrullus coloycnthis , a common desert annual plant. This is a diurnal species, however, it may appear during the night.

Biology: The Libyan jird is reported to be solitary in some areas, but to form small colonies in others as in Jordan. Females give birth to 2–4 young (Osborn & Helmy, 1980).

Remarks: This is a common species with a wide range of distribution in the arid regions of Jordan. The karyotype from specimens collected from the Jordanian eastern desert (referred to as “ M. shawi ”) yeiled 2n=44 and FN=74 (Qumsiyeh et al., 1986).

Figures

FIGURE 56.The Libyan jird, Meriones libycus (photo by Adwan Shehab).

FIGURE 57.A. Dorsal,B. Ventral, C. Lateral views of the skull, and D. Upper maxillary teeth for Meriones libycus.

FIGURE 58. Distribution of the Libyan jird, Meriones libycus.