Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboa

## About

A Baluchistan pygmy jerboa.

The Baluchistan pygmy jerboa ***(Salpingotolus michaelis)*** also commonly known as the three-toed dwarf jerboa is a small rodent species that inhabits the arid parts of Southeastern Pakistan. Baluchistan pygmy jerboas are famously known for their tiny stature and infant-like features. When compared to other jerboa subspecies, such as their large black eyes or small rounded ears. Baluchistan pygmy jerboas have soft sandy golden fur and long whiskers that coat their faces like beards. Jerboas stand in a hunched over posture carrying their paws like kangaroos and jumping with their characteristically long legs ending in large spade-shaped feet. Baluchistan pygmy jerboas share a similar appearance with kangaroo rats, having the same method of locomotion, jumping from place to place with their long tails keeping them balanced. Baluchistan pygmy jerboas are the smallest of all jerboa species as their name suggests, and they can grow to a miniscule 4.4cm (1.7in) and weigh only 3.8g (0.1oz), making the Baluchistan pygmy jerboa tied for the smallest rodent with the African pygmy mouse ***(Mus minotoides)***.

## Diet

Baluchistan pygmy jerboas eat a variety of arid growing vegetation such as succulents and grasses. Jerboas feed by raising their food to their mouths with their very capable hands, similarly to squirrels.

## Conservation Status

Little to no conservational knowledge is known about the Baluchistan pygmy jerboa. This is mostly due to the species' nocturnal behaviour. Baluchistan pygmy jerboas are listed as data deficient by the IUCN, meaning that we do not have a sufficient enough amount of data on the species to determine an official conservation status.

## Range and Population

    Baluchistan pygmy jerboas are known to live on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Baluchistan region, specifically in dry arid environments. The species is known to frequent sand dunes and gravel flats of the dry areas of Pakistan. Sightings of the species have been reported in southern Afghanistan however, these reports are unrecognised currently. The exact population of the Baluchistan pygmy jerboa is unknown and because of their data deficiency so is their population trend.

## Behaviour

Not much is known about the Baluchistan pygmy jerboa's behaviour other than the fact that the animal is nocturnal, only foraging for food at night. Many desert species are nocturnal simply because the desert sun puts too much pressure on the animal during day time, making it harder to forage or hunt because of the perpetual heat. Baluchistan pygmy jerboas live underground in deep burrows, and give birth to about 2-4 pups around tice a year in the safety of these burrows.

### Relationship with Humans

Like most rodents Baluchistan pygmy jerboas and jerboas in general, are very shy and skittish animals rarely if ever approaching humans. Baluchistan pygmy jerboas will run from humans as they perceive us as threats. Other than this obvious information not much else is known about the Baluchistan pygmy jerboa's relationship with humans as they barely interact with us at all due to their nocturnal lifestyles.

## In Captivity

Interestingly enough it is illegal to keep Baluchistan pygmy jerboas as pets in many countries (outside of Japan) including the USA because of the mental strain that it puts on the animals, making them very stressed. Baluchistan pygmy jerboas must also live in a very particular hot environment and removing them from this temperature can result in their death. It is not only dangerous to keep jerboas in captivity for their sake, but jerboas are known to carry the deadly monkey-pox virus which can be fatal to humans. This outlaw on having Baluchistan pygmy jerboas as pets does not stop them from being sold illegally on the pet market, being one of the most sought after exotic pets globally, for their tiny stature and cute appearance. No zoos house Baluchistan pygmy jerboas as of 2022.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19866/22199469
* Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboa | Wikipedia - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19866/22199469