The real Mickey Mouse
Jerboas look like mice with kangaroo legs. They have big ears, big eyes, a round body with soft silky brown and beige fur, a long tail with a tuft of fur on the end, long legs and big feet.
Because of its looks, this cute little rodent is nicknamed 'The Mickey Mouse of the desert'.
Millions of years ago, jerboas lived in Asia, Europe and Africa. Today Asian jerboas live in the deserts of China, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. There are also African jerboas in northern African deserts.
You can tell where a jerboa comes from by counting their toes: Asian jerboas have five toes on their back paws and African ones have three.
During the day jerboas sleep in underground nests. They come out at night, and hop about the desert looking for food. Jerboas eat almost anything. They like vegetables, fruit and grain best, but they'll also eat insects.
The long-eared jerboa that lives in the Trans-Altai Gobi Desert and the Gobi Desert in Mongolia is endangered. It is so hard to find that very little is known about it.