jerboa

American  

[jer-boh-uh, jer-] / dʒərˈboʊ ə, dʒɛr- /

noun

1. any of various mouselike rodents of North Africa and Asia, as of the genera Jaculus and Dipus, with long hind legs used for jumping.

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jerboa British  

/ dʒɜːˈbəʊə /

noun

1. any small nocturnal burrowing rodent of the family Dipodidae, inhabiting dry regions of Asia and N Africa, having pale sandy fur, large ears, and long hind legs specialized for jumping

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Etymology

Origin of jerboa

1655–65; < New Latin < Arabic yarbūʿ; see gerbil

Example Sentences

The team identified a gene called shox2, for example, that is expressed in the jerboa feet, but not in mouse feet.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 23, 2021

With its large ears and whiskered nose, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the jerboa for a mouse … at least from the stomach up.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 23, 2021

Thankfully, there are enough silly baby animals in Life Story to refocus your attention, such as the jerboa, which jumps at every noise its huge ears detect.

From The Guardian • Oct. 18, 2014

A type of hopping rodent called the jerboa, native to North Africa and Asia, also has a superlong tail. 

From National Geographic

Leap -- N. leap, jump, hop, spring, bound, vault, saltation†. ance, caper; curvet, caracole; gambade†, gambado†; capriole, demivolt†; buck, buck jump; hop skip and jump; falcade†. kangaroo, jerboa; chamois, goat, frog, grasshopper, flea; buckjumper†; wallaby.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark