The jerboa (from Arabic yarbu` or Hebrewyarboa` ) form the bulk of the membership of the family Dipodidae. Jerboas are small jumping desert rodents found throughout Asia and northern Africa that resemble mice with long tufted tails and very long hind legs. The small forelegs are not used for locomotion. In general, Asiatic jerboas have five toes on their hind feet and African jerboas have three; the shapes of their ears vary widely between species. Jerboa fur is long, soft and silky. Diet varies considerably: some are specialist seed, insect, or plant eaters, others are omnivores.
