干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

We examined the seasonal changes in burrow structure of Indian gerbil Tatera a indica (Hradwicke, 1807) and Indian desert gerbil Meriones hurrianae Jerdon, 1867 by excavating their natural burrows in the Thar desert of India. Burrow system of T. indica is of a simple ’Y’ shaped type with one or two surface openings whereas M. hurrianae tend to congregate in complicated and extensive burrow systems with numerous surface openings. T. indica showed a seasonal shift in maximum burrow depth, i.e. from 35 cm in winter to 45 - 50 cm in summer. M. hurrianae did not exhibit any seasonal change in burrow depth.