Flower's gerbil

Flower's gerbil (Gerbillus floweri) is a large gerbil distributed mainly in Egypt, from the eastern fringes of the Nile Delta to the Sinai Peninsula, south of El Arish. The fur on the upper parts of the body varies in color from pale cinnamon to tawny with an inconspicuous dorsal stripe, the ears are long and unpigmented, and the hind feet have hairy soles. Body length is usually 111 to 213 mm, and the tail, usually longer than the body, is 140 to 158 mm; it weighs approximately 49 to 63 g. The species lives in burrows, is nocturnal and feeds on insects and plants. It is found in rocky desert, sandy coastal plains, grass valleys, palm tree groves and cultivated areas. Breeding runs from May to December, with litters of usually four young born blind and hairless after a gestation of 20 to 22 days. Fewer than 250 individuals are thought to persist in the wild, but it is not considered threatened, since it is common within its small area of habitat and nothing poses a direct threat to it. The IUCN category carried by GBIF is Least Concern.