| Shaw's jird | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Meriones |
| Species: | M. shawi |
| Binomial name | |
| Meriones shawi (Duvernoy, 1842) | |
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 is able to survive long periods of dehydration in semi-desert regions where it lives, in part because of its well developed kidneys. Shaw's jird can mate 224 times in two hours. During the rainy season, Shaw's jirds breed more compared to summer when there is less rain. They typically live 1–2 years. In the Algerian highlands, they are a main prey source for Barn owls.
References
- 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.
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Meriones shawi | |
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