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Gerbils (i.e. Mongolian gerbils) are small rodents, with long furry tails with a tuft of fur at the end. They are larger than mice, but smaller than typical hamsters (syrian hamsters, not dwarf hamsters). The wild type coloration is "agouti", where each hair is banded, usually gray next to the skin, then a yellowish color, then ticked with black, with off-white hair on the belly. However, through selective breeding, several lovely color variations are available.
In their dry native habitats of Asia and Africa gerbils have few natural enemies and seem more curious than fearful of humans. The Mongolian gerbil, the most common species sold in stores, is a born
burrower and will develop networks of tunnels with food storage, nesting, and sleeping sites. Gerbils are four to six inches long excluding the tail and have a lifespan of three to five years.
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