Mongolian Gerbil

**Semantic type:** Mammal

**Definition:** A rodent belonging to subfamily Gerbillinae, Meriones unguiculatus is the most common species of the gerbil subfamily. The Mongolian gerbil was first imported into the United States in 1954 by Dr. Victor Schwentker. Most gerbils used in pre-clinical research are agouti-colored and comprise less than 0.5% of total rodent usage annually. The average gestational period of the gerbil embryo is 35 days and the gerbil has a life span of 3-4 years. Gerbils are docile, social creatures and can be housed as pairs or in groups of three. Charles River Laboratories currently disseminates gerbils for scientific research from stocks initially derived at Tumblebrook Farms (1995).

**Synonyms:** - Clawed Jird - MONGOLIAN - Meriones unguiculatus - Mongolian - Mongolian Jird