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Glite Dictionary
Meriones

Meriones

9.9
A group of small animals like mice called jirds that live in Asia and North Africa
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Meriones
  • The most commonly kept pet jird belongs to the genus Meriones.

Examples

  • Scientists studied the burrowing behavior of Meriones to understand their adaptation to arid climates.

  • Several species of Meriones are found throughout deserts in North Africa and Asia.

  • The Meriones species are known for their burrowing habits.

  • Have you ever seen a Meriones in the wild?

  • Several species of Meriones are found throughout deserts in North Africa and Asia.

  • Scientists studied the burrowing behavior of Meriones to understand their adaptation to arid climates.

  • The most commonly kept pet jird belongs to the genus Meriones.

Synonyms

genus Meriones
vsMeriones
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small rodents like jirds that live in dry areas

adds native region in Asia and northern Africa as a defining detail

Compounds

Meriones longifrons
  • Specialized
9.9

A small rodent like a gerbil with a long snout that lives in southern Europe

Meriones unguiculatus
  • Specialized
9.9

A small gerbil from Mongolia often kept as a pet

genus Meriones
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small rodents like jirds that live in dry areas

Surface Forms

Meriones singular
Meriones plural

Etymology

The scientific name Meriones comes from a Greek name for a 'hero' in myth, so a helpful way to remember it is to imagine a small rodent with a big, heroic name. That's why Meriones is the genus name for jirds and the common pet gerbil Meriones unguiculatus.