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Glite Dictionary
Meriones unguiculatus

Meriones unguiculatus

9.9
A small gerbil from Mongolia often kept as a pet
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : gerbil mongol
  • The Meriones unguiculatus is often chosen as an ideal pet for families with children.

Examples

  • The Meriones unguiculatus, or Mongolian gerbil, can live for several years with proper care.

  • Pet shops typically refer to the Meriones unguiculatus simply as the Mongolian gerbil.

  • Researchers studied the behavior of Meriones unguiculatus in both wild and domestic settings.

  • I have a pet Meriones unguiculatus named Nibbles.

  • The Meriones unguiculatus is known for its friendly nature.

  • Many families enjoy having a Meriones unguiculatus as a pet due to its gentle disposition.

  • At the animal shelter, I found a Meriones unguiculatus looking for a new home.

Synonyms

tamarisk gerbil
vsMeriones unguiculatus
8.9

A small friendly rodent often kept as a pet that is easy to care for

is the same species but notes the common name and general pet status

Surface Forms

Meriones unguiculatus singular
Meriones unguiculatuses plural

Morphology

Meriones + unguiculatus

The form is a Latin binomial (genus + species); a learner who knows 'Meriones' as a group of jirds/rodents can infer this refers to a particular rodent species, so part of the meaning (that it is a rodent) is predictable. However, the specific epithet 'unguiculatus' is non‑English and not transparently meaningful to a B1 learner, and the common name 'Mongolian gerbil' (and pet‑usage sense) would not be fully deducible, making the expression only partially predictable.

Etymology

Meriones unguiculatus is the Latin name for the 'Mongolian gerbil', an animal often kept as a pet. The second part, unguiculatus, means 'little-clawed' and gives a picture of the gerbil's small toes, and scientists use Latin names so each animal has one clear name.