Meriones libycus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	MURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Meriones libycus

Species Authority:

Lichtenstein, 1823

Common Name/s:

English

–

Libyan Jird

Synonym/s:

Meriones erythrourus (Gray, 1842)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Aulagnier, S., Granjon, L., Shenbrot, G. & Bukhnikashvili, A.

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Temple, H. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

History:

2004

–

Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Meriones libycus has a wide global range, occurring in North Africa (from Western Sahara and Mauritania to Egypt) and in Asia (from the Arabian peninsula east to China). Occurs up to 1,700 m (Roberts 1997).
Countries:	Native: Afghanistan; Algeria; Azerbaijan; China; Egypt; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kuwait; Libya; Mauritania; Morocco; Pakistan; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan; Western Sahara
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is a common species across its range.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	M. libycus occupies desert habitats, generally in areas with stabilized dunes (desert and semi-desert habitats). It becomes most abundant in unflooded river plains and it is often found close to wadis and dayas. It is sometimes found in arable land. It is a highly mobile species, frequently changing burrows or even migrating should forage conditions deteriorate.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species. It is considered a pest in some areas, as it may feed on crops.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species. It is considered a pest in some areas, as it may feed on crops.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no specific conservation measures in place. The species is found in many protected areas. No specific conservation measures are recommended for this species.

Conservation Actions:

There are no specific conservation measures in place. The species is found in many protected areas. No specific conservation measures are recommended for this species.

Citation:	Aulagnier, S., Granjon, L., Shenbrot, G. & Bukhnikashvili, A. 2008. Meriones libycus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2013.
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