Flower's gerbil  (Gerbillus floweri)

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Along with the rats, mice, voles, hamsters and lemmings, gerbils belong to the Muridae, the largest family of mammals (4). Flower’s gerbil is a member of the genus Gerbillus, a name which arises from a mixture of Arabic and Latin words and literally means ‘little gerbil’ (5). Flower’s gerbil is actually fairly large for a gerbil (2), with pale cinnamon to tawny coloured fur (2). Unlike the greater Egyptian gerbil (Gerbillus pyramidum), of which it was previously thought to be a subspecies, it has no black tuft of hair at the tip of the tail (5). Like all other Gerbillus species, the hind feet of Flower’s gerbil have hairy soles and the tail is usually longer than the body (4).

Flower’s gerbil occurs in Egypt, where it is restricted to a coastal area in the north-east of the country, stretching from the eastern edges of the Nile Delta to El Arish in the north of the Sinai Peninsula (1). A recent survey found that Flower’s gerbil was never observed further than 100 kilometres from the coast (3). It has also been recorded outside of its normal range, in Israel and Palestine (1).

Like many gerbils, this species is found in sandy, rocky, desert-like habitats including coastal plains, which are common on the north-east coast of Egypt. Flower’s gerbil may also be found in areas with more vegetation, such as palm tree groves and areas of farmland (1).

Living in hot, dry, desert areas, Flower’s gerbil is well-adapted to conserving precious water. It does this by producing small amounts of concentrated urine and by not sweating (6). However, as it does not sweat, Flower’s gerbil must be careful not to overheat, and so avoids the hot, desert sun by staying in a burrow during the day, where temperatures are cooler than those above ground (2). All gerbils live in burrows, which are easily dug in the sandy environments they inhabit and can range from a few small holes to an elaborate series of tunnels (4).

Venturing from the burrow at night, Flower’s gerbil forages for seeds, leaves, nuts and fruits, which it often stores in small chambers in the burrow (2) (4). Camel dung has also been found in these chambers, which is thought to be picked apart by the gerbil in search of seeds to eat (2).

The breeding season of Flower’s gerbil is known to be from January to March, but could extend until May (2). After a gestation period of 20 to 22 days (2), the female gives birth to a litter that may contain one to eight offspring, although four or five young is most common (4). Young Flower’s gerbils are born furless and helpless and are completely dependent on their mother as they do not open their eyes for 16 to 20 days (4).

Currently, there are no known major threats to Flower’s gerbil (1).

There are currently no conservation measures in places for Flower’s gerbil, and it is not known if this species occurs in any protected areas (1).