Meriones unguiculatus

Gerbil Ger"bil (j[~e]r"b[i^]l), Gerbille Ger`bille" (zh[asl]r`b[-e]l"), n. [F. gerbille. Cf. {Jerboa}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) One of several species of small, jumping, murine burrowing rodents, of the genus {Gerbillus} and related genera of the subfamily {Gerbillinae}. They have long soft pale fur and hind legs adapted for leaping. In their leaping powers they resemble the jerboa. They inhabit Africa, India, and Southern Europe. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

2. (Zo["o]l.) A rodent ({Meriones unguiculatus}) of the subfamily {Gerbillinae} that is commonly kept as a pet; it is also called the {tamarisk gerbil}, {sand rat} and {jird}. Its natural habitats are the dry regions of Northern Africa and Asia. [PJC]