Desert rodents (7) - Crossword Clue
Answer: JERBOAS
Understanding clue
- Jerboas are fascinating desert rodents perfectly adapted to arid environments across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
- These small mammals are instantly recognizable by their kangaroo-like appearance, featuring enormously long hind legs that can be up to four times longer than their front legs, allowing them to execute impressive bipedal hops of up to 10 feet in a single bound.
Related Desert Rodent Terms
- When solving crossword puzzles, you might encounter these related terms:
- gerbils (smaller desert rodents often kept as pets), kangaroo rats (North American desert dwellers with similar hopping locomotion), ground squirrels (diurnal desert rodents), and springhares (African jumping rodents).
- Understanding LSI keywords like "bipedal rodents," "jumping mice," and "desert fauna" can help identify similar clues.
Expert Crossword Solving Tips
- Letter pattern recognition: When you see "(7)" indicating a seven-letter word with "rodents" in the clue, immediately consider animals ending in "S" for plural forms, which significantly narrows possibilities.
- Geographic context clues: Words like "desert," "arid," or "sandy" typically point toward species with specialized adaptations rather than common rodents like rats or mice.
- Cross-reference strategy: If you've already filled in intersecting letters, pay special attention to the "J" at the beginning and "AS" at the end, as these letter combinations are relatively uncommon in English and strongly suggest JERBOAS.
- Elimination technique: Common seven-letter rodents include hamsters and gophers, but neither is primarily associated with desert environments, making them poor fits for this specific clue.
Desert rodents (7) - 7 Little Words - FAQs
Q: Are jerboas related to kangaroos?
No, despite their similar hopping locomotion and appearance, jerboas are rodents while kangaroos are marsupials. This similarity is an example of convergent evolution where unrelated species develop similar traits.
Q: Can jerboas be kept as pets?
While some species are occasionally kept in captivity, jerboas have highly specialized dietary and environmental needs that make them challenging pets. Many species are also protected due to habitat loss.
Q: How fast can jerboas jump?
Jerboas can reach speeds of up to 15 mph when hopping and can change direction mid-air to evade predators like owls, foxes, and snakes.
Q: What other crossword clues might use JERBOAS as an answer?
Alternative clues include "jumping rodents," "Gobi Desert leapers," "nocturnal hoppers," or "bipedal desert mammals."
Q: How many species of jerboas exist?
There are approximately 33 recognized species of jerboas across 11 genera, with the most well-known being the lesser Egyptian jerboa and the long-eared jerboa.
