Gerbillus is characterized by a slender form and fairly long ears and claws. The slender upper incisors are grooved, though sometimes indistinctly. In the subgenus Handecapleura the soles of the hind feet are naked, while in the subgenus Gerbillus the soles are hairy. Northern pygmy gerbils are found in dry country, sandy or rocky, sometimes with only scarce and coarse vegetation. Some species, however, tend to concentrate in moist, well-vegetated places, and G. poecilops seems to prefer cultivated areas and has a tendency to invade farm buildings.
All species are primarily nocturnal, and some are also crepuscular.
They construct burrows, which vary from small, simple holes to fairly elaborate excavations. The burrows of certain species, such as G. mesopotamiae, may be two to three meters long and have several entrances, food storage tunnels, and an enlarged chamber with a nest of dry vegetation about a meter below the surface. The burrow entrances are usually kept closed with sand. The diet consists of seeds, roots, nuts, grasses, and insects. The individuals of most species tend to build their burrows close to one another and thereby give the impression of an extensive colony.