Jerboa

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/jerboa

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Dipodidae
2. What is the geographic distribution?North Africa and Asia
3. What makes a jerboa special compared to other rodents?Jerboas have very long hind legs that let them hop like kangaroos, which helps them move fast across sandy deserts.
4. How fast can a jerboa hop to escape predators?When a predator comes close, a jerboa can hop at speeds of up to 24 km/h (about 15 mph).

Saltatorial Locomotion: Movement characterized by leaping or hopping, typically using hind limbs.
Nocturnal: Describes animals that are primarily active during the night.
Arid Environment: A dry habitat characterized by very little rainfall.
Predator Detection: The ability of an organism to sense and identify potential threats.