Morphological characteristics of the Libyan Jird, Meriones libycus Lichtenstein, 1823 (Rodentia: Gerbillinae), in Syria

摘要

Twenty-nine adult specimens of the Libyan Jird, Meriones libycus, were collected from semi-arid areas to the east and north of Damascus city. The external morphology and biometric measurements for these specimens are discussed. Skull, cheek tooth structure, phallus, glans penis and baculum shape are illustrated. In contrast to the other species of the genus Meriones, the first upper molar M~1 has four roots instead of three. The specimens studied are referred to the subspecies M. I. syrius.