Cardiocranius

Cardiocranius is a monotypic genus of rodents in the family Dipodidae, holding only the five-toed pygmy jerboa, Cardiocranius paradoxus. The species is found in China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, where its natural habitat is temperate desert. It has adapted to that dry setting by burrowing underground to avoid overheating, using its burrows to store food and for shelter, and hibernating there through cold winters to conserve energy. Because it burrows, it is nocturnal and prefers to forage at night when conditions are less severe. The species is not well known, and its population and conservation status are unresolved.