145.

Buxton’s Jird

Meriones sacramenti

French: Mérione de Buxton / German: Palastina-Rennratte / Spanish: Gerbillo de Buxton

Other common names: Negev Jird

Taxonomy. Meriones sacramenti Thomas, 1922,

“Southern Palestine [= Israel]. 10 miles [= 16 km] south of Beersheba.”

Morphologically M. sacramenti is very close to North African M. shawand M. Libycus, but no molecular data are available for this species. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Egypt (coastal region of Sinai), S Israel (Negev Desert), and Palestine. Descriptive notes. Head-body 130-170 mm, tail 120-180 mm, ear 17-22 mm, hindfoot 30-41 mm; weight 125-275 g. A medium-sized jird, Buxton’s Jird has tail of about same length as head-body length and partially hairy soles of hindfeet. Bicolored tail ends with well-developed pencil of black hairs. Dorsal pelage is reddish sandy, diffusely speckled with black hairs, and ventral is white. Enlarged tympanic bullae project over back of skull and represent c.35-37% ofskull length. Karyotype 2n = 46.

Habitat. Buxton’s Jird inhabits sand dunes in coastal plains, and semi-desertic zones in Negev, with low and sparse vegetation.

Food and Feeding. Diet consists of green vegetation, roots, bulbs, seeds, cereals,fruits, and insects. Buxton’s Jird is thought to be more folivorous than other Meriones species.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Buxton’sJird is nocturnal and terrestrial, digging burrowsin soft soil. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Buxton’s Jirds live in small family groups.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List owing to its low density and to threats emanating from urbanization, extensive agricultural development, and political instability.

Bibliography. Aulagnier et al. (2009), Harrison & Bates (1991), Hutterer et al. (2008).