Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Gerbillus

Gerbillus

9.9
A group of small animals like gerbils that live in Africa and Asia
  • noun
  • /ˈɡɜrbɪləs/
  • Specialized
: Gerbillus
  • The genus Gerbillus includes many species of gerbils found in desert regions.

Examples

  • Most laboratory gerbils are derived from the Mongolian species within Gerbillus.

  • Scientists discovered a new species belonging to Gerbillus in northern Africa.

  • The Gerbillus species is known for its burrowing habits.

  • Did you know that the Gerbillus can live up to four years?

  • Scientists discovered a new species belonging to Gerbillus in northern Africa.

  • Most laboratory gerbils are derived from the Mongolian species within Gerbillus.

  • The genus Gerbillus includes many species of gerbils found in desert regions.

Surface Forms

Gerbillus singular
Gerbilli plural

Morphology

Gerbillus = gerbil (semi-transparent) = gerbil + us

Formally built from 'gerbil' plus the Latinized suffix '-us' to name a taxonomic genus; the relation to 'gerbil' is clear but the specialized sense 'a genus of gerbils' is technical rather than an everyday derivation.

Etymology

Gerbillus is the scientific Latin-style name based on the common word gerbil. The word gerbil comes from an old Arabic word for a 'small desert rodent', so Gerbillus is the name given to a group of small, desert-living rodents found in Africa and Asia.