{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{speciesbox | name = Arabian jird | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Cassola, F. |date=2016 |title=''Meriones arimalius'' |errata=2017 |article-number=e.T13159A115109703 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T13159A22434113.en |access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> | genus = Meriones | species = arimalius | authority = Cheesman & Hinton, 1924 | image = Meriones arimalius 479598443 (cropped).jpg | image_caption = | synonyms = }}
The '''Arabian jird''' ('''''Meriones arimalius''''') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.<ref name = MSW3>{{MSW3 Muroidea | id = 13001141 | page = 1234}}</ref> It is found in Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
== Taxonomy == First described by Cheesman and Hinton in 1924'', Meriones arimalius'' is sometimes considered a subspecies of the closely related ''Meriones libycus'', the Libyan jird.<ref name="IUCN" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bray |first1=Timothy C. |last2=Alagaili |first2=Abdulaziz N. |last3=Bennett |first3=Nigel C. |date=2014-07-03 |title=A widespread problem: cryptic diversity in the Libyan jird |journal=Zoological Studies |language=en |volume=53 |issue=1 |page=33 |doi=10.1186/s40555-014-0033-3 |doi-access=free |issn=1810-522X}}</ref>
== Description == The fur is short and thing; the back is "sandy-cream", the bottom is white, and the tail is "ivory to yellow, with a white tuft of hairs at the end". The type specimen in {{Convert|132|mm|in}} long, with a {{Convert|163|mm|in}} tail. The ears are {{Convert|18|mm|in}} and the hindfeet {{Convert|37|mm|in}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=Don E. |last2=Mittermeier |first2=Russell A. |last3=Thomas E. Lacher |first3=Jr |date=2017-11-30 |title=Muridae |url=https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E2753409FFB8E1872EEE76668B68 |journal=Handbook of the Mammals of the World - Volume 7 Rodents II |pages=536–884 |doi=10.5281/zenodo.6887260 |via=TreatmentBank}}</ref>
== Distribution, ecology, and conservation status == Little is known about the Arabian jird's behavior, distribution, or abundance in its range. It has been found in the Rub al Khali desert in Oman and Saudi Arabia, and may occur in the United Arab Emirates as well. It is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN despite the limited information, as it is widely distributed and its habitat is not under threat.<ref name = IUCN/>
Known predators of the Arabian jird include the sand cat, ''felis margarita.''<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8541/50651884 |title=Felis margarita: Sliwa, A., Ghadirian, T., Appel, A., Banfield, L., Sher Shah, M. & Wacher, T.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T8541A50651884 |last=IUCN |date=2014-04-20 |publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature |doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-2.rlts.t8541a50651884.en |language=en}}</ref> It is known to dig burrows and use them as shelter when threatened. It eats ''Abutilon fruticosum'' seeds.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Gerbillinae|G1.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1766146}}
Category:Meriones (rodent) Category:Mammals described in 1924 Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Mammals of the Arabian Peninsula
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