The Tristram’s jird (Meriones tristrami) is a desert-dwelling rodent with a calm demeanor, a clever survival strategy, and a name rooted in exploration. Named after Henry Baker Tristram, a 19th-century British naturalist and explorer, this jird is found across the Middle East, including Israel, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, and parts of Iran. It’s a hardy and adaptable rodent, perfectly suited for life in semi-arid grasslands, rocky deserts, and scrubby habitats — environments that can be both hot and harsh.

What sets Tristram’s jird apart from other species in the Meriones genus is its comparatively mellow personality and preference for rocky and shrubby terrain over open, sandy desert. It has a robust body with a tail that’s slightly longer than its body, tipped with a tuft of black or brown fur. Its fur is usually yellowish-brown or grayish on the back, blending in with dry vegetation and rocks, and whitish underneath — a classic desert camouflage combo.

Like other jirds, Tristram’s jird is a burrowing rodent, creating underground homes that help it escape the heat of the day and avoid predators. These burrows can be fairly simple or surprisingly complex, depending on the soil and social structure. Though usually solitary, some individuals may share burrows or live in loose colonies in areas with abundant resources. These jirds are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, foraging during the cooler parts of the day and night for seeds, roots, grasses, and sometimes insects.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Armenia

2016

Azerbaijan

2016

Georgia

2016

Greece

2016

Presence Uncertain

Iran

2016

Iraq

2016

Israel

2016

Jordan

2016

Lebanon

2016

Syria

2016

Turkey

2016