Abstract
Persian jird Meriones persicus is a widespread species in Iranian plateau and is one of the commonest jirds in desert rodents of Iran. We studied architecture of Persian jird’s burrow systems in the central part of its geographic range in Iran for the first time in south of Shah-Reza in Isfahan Province. Three types burrow were detected for this jird including temporary burrow, shelter burrow and breeding-nest burrow. The burrows of M. persicus were restricted to areas including cover and located mostly on flat and slightly sloping areas with clay-lome soil type. Design of burrows demonstrated M. persicus do not hibernate in the study area. Because we observed this species in winter and in cold temperature in study area in active burrow systems. Also, the structure of nest chambers can be seen as an adaptation to adverse weather conditions in the central part of the Iranian Plateau, since they are likely to provide a stable microclimate that buffers conditions outside.
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Mohammadi, S., Kaboli, M., Aliabadian, M. et al. Burrow configuration of Persian jird Meriones persicus Blanford, 1875 (Rodentia: Muridae, Gerbillinae). Mamm Biol 76, 515–517 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2010.12.002
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2010.12.002