Pleasant gerbil  (Gerbillus amoenus)

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

The pleasant gerbil, also known as the charming dipodil, has short, brown fur on the upperparts of the body, blending into yellow on the sides (2), and a characteristic large, white patch on the rump (2). The facial markings are also distinctive, with a stripe of darker fur running from below each eye to the ears, and white patches above the eyes and behind the ears (2). The underside of the body is white (2), while the long tail is dark on top and white below, extending into a tuft for the last third of its length (2) (3). The soles of the hind feet lack hair and are typically elongated to a quarter the length of the body (3).

The distribution of the pleasant gerbil is split into two separate areas, lying within Egypt and Libya, separated by a region of unsuitable habitat (1).

The pleasant gerbil primarily inhabits rocky and sandy areas of desert (2) (3), but it has also been reported in a wide range of other habitats including wastelands, oases, salt marshes, canal banks, cultivated areas and human habitations (2).

The pleasant gerbil is a nocturnal species that spends the day in a shallow burrow dug into sand or soil (2) (4) (5). Leaving its burrow at dusk, the pleasant gerbil begins foraging. Although its diet is not known, it is likely to be similar to that of closely related gerbils (2), which feed on invertebrates (particularly insects), roots, grasses, nuts and seeds (3).

Females of Gerbillus species are polyestrous (3), meaning they can give birth more than twice throughout any given year. A litter of four or five young are typically born following a gestation period of about 20 days (3), although litters can vary in size from one to eight offspring (3). At birth, pleasant gerbils have no fur and only open their eyes after 20 days (3). Females wean their young after approximately one month (3).

There are currently no known major threats to the pleasant gerbil (1).

There are no specific conservation measures currently in place for this species (1).