There are other sources of information available on Salpingotus crassicauda, however, many of these are written in either Russian or German. Holden (1993) noted that some populations of S. crassicauda found south of Lake Balkhash and north of Aral Sea have recently been reclassified as a separate species, S. Pallidus.
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
Salpingotus crassicauda is regarded as rare in both China and the Soviet Union (Nowak 1991).
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: data deficient
Jerboas in general may be a pest to melon growers, however, there were no reports of this behavior specifically for this species (MacDonald 1984).
Salpingotus crassicauda feeds on insects and vegetable matter. However, in captivity one Salpingotus ate only invertebrates. S. crassicauda may also eat seeds, like many other jerboas (Nowak 1991, MacDonald 1984).
Salpingotus crassicauda is found in northwest China, Southwest Mongolia, and the Soviet Union.
Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native )
Salpingotus crassicauda can be found in steppes and deserts. They dig burrows in sand dunes. Their burrows can extend up to three meters in length (Holden 1993, Nowak 1991).
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune
Head and body range in length from 41 to 47 mm. The tail is more than double the length of the body, ranging in length from 93 to 126 mm. The tail is swollen at the proximal end, due to fat storage, and it is covered with short hairs that become longer toward the terminal end. The metatarsals are extended and range from 20 to 25 mm. There are only three toes present in each hind foot of S. crassicauda. It has tufts of hair beneath each toe, which aid in gripping when running on soft sand. S. crassicauda has external ears that are small and round (MacDonald 1984, Nowak 1991, Ognev 1963).
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Salpingotus crassicauda females have eight teats and have an average litter of 2.7 young. Sexual maturity is not reached in the first year. The reproductive behavior is unknown. Other northern species of jerboas, however, breed shortly after emerging from hibernation. These jerboas are thought to have two litters per season consisting of two to six young (Nowak 1991, MacDonald 1984, Ognev 1963).
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual
The thick-tailed pygmy jerboa (Salpingotus crassicauda) is a species of rodent in the family Dipodidae. It is found in China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland and temperate desert. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is listed by the IUCN as being "least concern".
This species grows to a head-and-body length of around 45 to 60 mm (1.8 to 2.4 in) with a slightly longer tail. The head is large and the eyes small, the ears are short and tubular and the tail may have a thickening near the base where fat is deposited. These jerboas get most of their water intake from the food that they consume, however they will drink water if they can find it.[2]
The thick-tailed pygmy jerboa is a solitary nocturnal animal. It has a permanent burrow with many passages which may extend for 3 m (10 ft). The entrances are sealed with loose plugs of sand and if the jerboa is spotted in the open by a predator it attempts to bury itself in the sand. Predators include owls, mountain weasels (Mustela altaica), marbled polecats (Vormela peregusna) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). This jerboa feeds on small invertebrates such as grasshoppers and spiders and also some vegetable matter, mostly seeds. Reproduction takes place in the spring and summer when litters of two to five young are born.[1]
The thick-tailed pygmy jerboa varies in its spatial distribution and its populations are subject to large fluctuations. Threats it faces include predators, droughts, overgrazing of its habitat, destruction of its burrows and road kill. Insufficient evidence is available for the International Union for Conservation of Nature to assess its conservation status so it is listed as "data deficient".[1]
The thick-tailed pygmy jerboa (Salpingotus crassicauda) is a species of rodent in the family Dipodidae. It is found in China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland and temperate desert. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is listed by the IUCN as being "least concern".
