Cardiocraniinae

dwarf jerboas

Features
By Alexxis Douglas

Diversity

Cardiocraniinae is a subfamily within the family Dipodidae , which comprises 6 total subfamilies, 16 genera, and 51 species. Members of subfamily Cardiocraniinae , commonly called dwarf jerboas, are classified into 3 genera: Cardiocranius , Salpingotulus , and Salpingotus . Species in the subfamily Cardiocraniinae are well adapted to arid climates, such as deserts and grasslands, throughout eastern Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and parts of North America. They have compact bodies with short forelegs, long hind legs, long tails, and large ears that play a role in scent marking. Dwarf jerboas primarily exhibit saltatory locomotion, using their long hind legs to bound or gallop around.

Three-toed dwarf gerboas (those in the genera Salpingotulus and Salpingotus ) are commonly found in areas with sandy substrates, whereas five-toed dwarf gerboas (in the genus Cardiocranius ) are found in areas with hard clay substrates, such as parts of Asia. Dwarf jerboas will often dig multiple burrows, which can serve various purposes, including day burrows, shelter burrows, and hibernation burrows. Dwarf jerboas are primarily nocturnal and will cover the entrances to their burrows during the day. Male dwarf jerboas tend to have overlapping territories and are generally tolerant of nearby conspecifics, whereas females are more territorial. In general, members of the subfamily Cardiocraniinae have a single litter per year, with a gestation period of four to five weeks. Their diets consist primarily of seeds and fruits.

Geographic Range

Dwarf jerboas are native to the Palearctic region and some parts of the Oriental region. Geographic distribution varies between species, but most members of the subfamily Cardiocraniinae inhabit arid regions, including parts of China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan.

Habitat

Dwarf jerboas occupy deserts, montane areas, grasslands, and some wetlands. They typically build multiple burrows in soft substrates, such as clay or sand, depending on the region in which they live. They use different burrows for specific purposes; some are used to sleep during the day, others for escaping predators, and others still for hibernating in winter. The length and depth of each burrow differs depending on its purpose. Compared to five-toad dwarf jerboas, three-toed dwarf jerboas construct more complex daytime burrows that are similar in structure to their hibernation and shelter burrows.

Systematic and Taxonomic History

There is limited information on the taxonomic history of the subfamily Cardiocraniinae , but they are closely related to other members of the family Dipodidae . Dwarf jerboas were historically grouped with birch mice and jumping mice, but those groups have been reclassified as the subfamilies Sicistinae and Zapodinae , respectively.

Physical Description

Dwarf jerboas have compact bodies with tails that are often equal or greater in length. Depending on age and species, they measure 10 - 20 cm from snout to tail, and they weigh between 14 and 20 g. Dwarf jerboas have long ears, short forelegs and very long hindlegs. Coloration varies between genera and species based on geographic location and corresponding environments. Some species have reddish-yellow coloration with white or russet underbellies, while other species have gray, white, or sandy coloration with lighter colors on their underbellies. Species in the genera Salpingotulus and Salpingotus have three toes on their hind feet. In contrast, Cardiocranius paradoxus , the only species in the genus Cardiocranius , has five toes.

Reproduction

Dwarf jerboas are typically polygynous or polygynandrous - males mate with multiple females during a breeding season, while females may mate with one or more males, depending on how many litters they have within a breeding season. Most breeding behavior is concentrated between late April and early May, and parturition occurs around 30 to 35 days after copulation. In some cases, females breed again after weaning their first litter, having a second litter between July and August. Females dig intricate burrow systems with multiple exits, pathways, and chambers, in which they rear their young. Litter sizes range from three to eight pups, and it takes around 30 days for pups to reach independence. Dwarf jerboas reach sexual maturity within around 14 weeks, well before the following breeding season.

Dwarf jerboas are solitary outside of breeding season, and there is limited information on how they find mates. Pheromones likely play a role, but males are reported to react more strongly to mating calls. During the breeding season, males playfully chase females around. In captivity, pregnant females will aggressively defend their burrows from males, sometimes killing the males in the process. Wild dwarf jerboas may be similarly territorial while rearing young.

There is limited information on the breeding behaviors of dwarf jerboas. Breeding season occurs between late April and early May, but females may breed again in summer after they rear their first litter of young. Litter size ranges from three to eight pups. When pups are born, their forelegs and hind legs are similar in length, but their hind legs grow much faster. Newborn pups reach independence after about 4 weeks, but their ability to jump and move quickly develops for up to 11 weeks and they reach sexual maturity after about 14 weeks.

Female dwarf jerboas construct elaborate burrow systems in which they rear their young. Pups are dependent on their mothers for milk and protection until they are weaned, after around 35 days. Males exhibit no parental investment beyond the act of mating.

  • Parental Investment
  • female parental care
  • pre-fertilization
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-hatching/birth
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-weaning/fledging
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-independence
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female

Lifespan/Longevity

Dwarf jerboas can live up to six years in captivity. However, wild dwarf jerboas are less likely to live more than two to three years, as they experience high rates of mortality due to predation, disease, and abiotic factors such as extreme weather.

Behavior

Dwarf jerboas are naturally cautious, solitary rodents. They are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, resting in underground burrows during the day to escape extreme environmental conditions. During rainy seasons, dwarf jerboas burrow into hillsides to reduce the amount of water that floods their homes. For some species, individuals have overlapping territories, while other species exhibit lower population densities with greater distances between territories. Because they are mostly solitary, dwarf jerboas are generally non-aggressive towards conspecifics, but pregnant or lactating females will aggressively defend their burrows, especially from male intruders. Some species have been reported to form temporary colonies in communal burrows, likely as a method of conserving body heat in cases of extremely cold weather.

Communication and Perception

Dwarf jerboas communicate and perceive their environment mainly through visual and acoustic stimuli, but tactile and chemical cues are also important. They have large eyes and ears, which help them detect low levels of light and sound when they are active at night. Tactile stimuli are important for dwarf jerboas when navigating burrow structures and when foraging. They use their long whiskers to detect objects before colliding with them, and they can sense vibrations in the ground through their feet, which can alert them to the presence of potential predators.

While dwarf jerboas are primarily solitary, they are social during breeding season. Some species communicate with specific vocalizations or other sounds. It is likely that all species communicate to some extent using pheromones, and some species are documented to leave pheromones at communal dust bathing areas. Because there is such limited information on dwarf jerboa interactions, there may be additional modes of communication that have not yet been reported.

Food Habits

Dwarf jerboas are typically omnivores, with the majority of their diet consisting of vegetation, berries, and small insects. However, they will also eat small lizards or birds opportunistically. Pygmy jerboas use their noses, large ears, and vibrissae to locate prey, both on the ground and in the air.

Predation

Different species of dwarf jerboas experience differing predation pressures depending on their geographic distribution, but typical predators include foxes, cats, jackals, owls, and snakes. Dwarf jerboas have keen eyesight and hearing, which help them detect potential predators, and their coloration helps them camouflage with their environment. When threatened, their main defense is to seek refuge, either in their burrows or underneath nearby vegetation and rocks.

Ecosystem Roles

Pygmy jerboas play important roles in their ecosystem. They serve as prey for larger vertebrates in their communities, including canids, felids, owls, and snakes. Furthermore, pygmy jerboas are omnivorous and thus have impacts on local plant and arthropod populations. Although they do not typically store food, females do so when rearing young and thus may act as seed dispersers. The burrows that pygmy jerboas dig contribute to soil aeration, which can further impact vegetation and the broader ecosystem.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

There are no known positive economic impacts of dwarf jerboas. However, they play important ecosystem roles in the deserts and grasslands they inhabit.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There is limited information on the economic effects of pygmy jerboas. Some species may be carriers of the virus that causes monkeypox, so encroachment on their habitats by humans may pose risks to public health.

Conservation Status

There is limited information on the conservation status of dwarf jerboas. Kozlov's pygmy jerboas ( Salpingotus kozlovi ) and thick-tailed pygmy jerboas ( Salpingotus crassicauda ) are both considered to be species of "Least Concern", but other species are listed as "Data Deficient" on the IUCN Red List. For species that are data deficient, it is difficult to make conclusions about population size and stability. Further research is needed to elucidate the effects of fluctuating populations on risk of extinction.

Other Comments

There is fossil evidence of jerboas living roughly 16.4 million years ago in the Middle Miocene Epoch. The family Cardiocraniinae was first described by Russian zoologist Boris Stepanovich Vinogradov in 1925.

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Alexxis Douglas (author), Colorado State University, Audrey Bowman (editor), Colorado State University, Galen Burrell (editor), Special Projects.

Palearctic

living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.

World Map

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

oriental

found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.

World Map

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

terrestrial

Living on the ground.

desert or dunes

in deserts low (less than 30 cm per year) and unpredictable rainfall results in landscapes dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity. Vegetation is typically sparse, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain. Deserts can be cold or warm and daily temperates typically fluctuate. In dune areas vegetation is also sparse and conditions are dry. This is because sand does not hold water well so little is available to plants. In dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil. Salt limits the ability of plants to take up water through their roots.

tropical savanna and grassland

A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.

savanna

A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.

temperate grassland

A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.

mountains

This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.

marsh

marshes are wetland areas often dominated by grasses and reeds.

polygynous

having more than one female as a mate at one time

polygynandrous

the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.

seasonal breeding

breeding is confined to a particular season

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

viviparous

reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.

female parental care

parental care is carried out by females

fossorial

Referring to a burrowing life-style or behavior, specialized for digging or burrowing.

saltatorial

specialized for leaping or bounding locomotion; jumps or hops.

nocturnal

active during the night

crepuscular

active at dawn and dusk

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

hibernation

the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced, thus lowering the animal's energy requirements. The act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state, typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals.

solitary

lives alone

visual

uses sight to communicate

tactile

uses touch to communicate

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

pheromones

chemicals released into air or water that are detected by and responded to by other animals of the same species

vibrations

movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others

tactile

uses touch to communicate

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

vibrations

movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

stores or caches food

places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. Also called "hoarding"

cryptic

having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.

soil aeration

digs and breaks up soil so air and water can get in

causes disease in humans

an animal which directly causes disease in humans. For example, diseases caused by infection of filarial nematodes (elephantiasis and river blindness).

carnivore

an animal that mainly eats meat

insectivore

An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.

herbivore

An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.

frugivore

an animal that mainly eats fruit

granivore

an animal that mainly eats seeds

omnivore

an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals

mycophage

an animal that mainly eats fungus

endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

References

Chavez, J. 2013. "Pallid Pygmy Jerboa" (On-line). EOL. Accessed February 20, 2022 at https://eol.org/pages/327891/articles?locale_code=en .

Sharp, J. 1996. "The Jerboa" (On-line). DesertUSA. Accessed February 24, 2022 at https://www.desertusa.com/animals/jerboa.html .

2022. "Birch Mice, Jumping Mice, and Jerboas (Dipodidae)" (On-line). Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Accessed February 13, 2022 at https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/birch-mice-jumping-mice-and-jerboas-dipodidae .

2021. "Jeboa" (On-line). Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. Accessed March 27, 2022 at https://www.britannica.com/animal/jerboa .

2021. "Jerboa" (On-line). AZ Animals. Accessed February 20, 2022 at https://a-z-animals.com/animals/jerboa/ .

2022. "What Is a Pygmy Jerboa?" (On-line). All Things Nature. Accessed March 05, 2022 at https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-a-pygmy-jerboa.htm .

To cite this page: Douglas, A. 2025. "Cardiocraniinae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed {%B %d, %Y} at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cardiocraniinae/

Last updated: 2025-27-30 / Generated: 2025-10-03 01:10

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