The Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboa, or the Dwarf Three-toed Jerboa, (Salpingotulus michaelis) is a species of rodent

Rodent

Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....

 in the Dipodidae

Dipodidae

The Dipodidae, or dipodids, are a family of rodents found across the northern hemisphere. This family includes over 50 species among the 16 genera....

 family. It is the only species in the genus Salpingotulus. Adults average only 4.4cm head and body length, with the tail averaging 8cm. Adult females weigh 3.75 grams. It is endemic to Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

. In the 2010 Guinness World Book of Records it is tied for the smallest rodent in the world.

Distribution

This little rodent species is not found anywhere outside Pakistan. It was first discovered by J.A Anderson. It is confined to shifting sand dune desert in the Chaghi (Chagai) region of south-western Balochistan.

Habits

This nocturnal Jerboa progresses over a dry desert habitat by long hops, balancing itself on its tail while raising food to its mouth. They lives in burrows generally excavated under small bushes. They feed on wind blown seeds and succulent leaves of desert adapted vegetation. They undergo a diurnal rhythm of physiological dormancy, when their bodily functions, including respiration and blood circulation, slow down dramatically. This is known as facultative hypothermia and it enables them to survive on a diet of low nutritive value. About 2 to 4 young, blind and naked at birth, are born in the spring and summer months. No more than 2 litters a year are normally produced.

Predators

The natural enemies of this Jerboa are Leaf-nosed Viper (Eristocophis mcmahoni), Trans Caspian Monitor Lizard (Varanus caspius), and Sand Cat (Felis margarita).