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What the sources say

Greater JerboaJaculus orientalis

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Greater Jerboa profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 49 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Jaculus orientalis (greater Egyptian jerboa). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysflees predators in leaps measured at up to 3 meters long
The source saysIts normal bipedal walking/running gait turns into great leaps as it flees a predator. These leaps have been measured at 1.5 to 3 m long and 1 m high.
The page sayson hind legs about four times the length of its front ones
The source saysThe hindlimbs are roughly four times as long as the forelimbs
The page saysHumid coastal and salt semi-deserts, subtropical shrubland, rocky valleys, and cultivated barley fields across North Africa
The source sayslives in humid coastal and salt semi-deserts and in subtropical shrubland, including rocky valleys and meadows. They are also found in barley fields of the semi-nomadic Bedouin tribes.
The page saysSucculent roots, seeds, grains, sprouts, and occasional insects
The source saysfeeds primarily on succulent roots, sprouts, seeds, grains, a few cultivated vegetables, and occasional insects.
The page saysBipedal leaping on hind legs about four times the length of its forelimbs
The source saysIts normal bipedal walking/running gait turns into great leaps as it flees a predator
The page sayshind legs about four times the length of its forelimbs
The source saysThe hindlimbs are roughly four times as long as the forelimbs
The page saysleaps have been measured at up to 3 meters long
The source saysThese leaps have been measured at 1.5 to 3 m long and 1 m high.
The page sayswhose normal gait is a walk or run on its two hind legs
The source saysIts normal bipedal walking/running gait
The page saysAn adult averages 139.1 grams
The source saysaverage body mass is 139.1 g.
The page saysmeasures 9.5 to 16 centimeters
The source saysRange length 9.5 to 16 cm
The page saysmales slightly larger than females
The source saysMales are slightly larger than females
The page saysa tail that averages 12.8 to 25 centimeters and ends in a tuft of black and white hair
The source saysends in a tuft of black and white hair; the tail length averages 12.8 to 25 cm (5-9.8 inches)
The page saysIts hind legs are roughly four times the length of its forelimbs
The source saysThe hindlimbs are roughly four times as long as the forelimbs
The page saysIn each hind foot the metatarsals, the long bones between ankle and toes, are fused into a cannon bone, and the first and fifth toes are missing, leaving three long, flattened toes
The source saysThe metatarsal bones of the hind feet are fused together into a 'cannon bone,' and the first and fifth digits are missing, leaving three long, flattened toes.
The page saysHair along the sides and bottom of those toes increases the foot's surface area and aids its movement on sand
The source saysHair on the sides and bottom of toes increase the surface area of the foot and aid in locomotion on sand.
The page saysWhen standing, it rests its tail in a curve for support and balance
The source saysWhen standing, J. orientalis rests its tail in a curved position, providing support and balance.
The page sayssifting through sand and loose soil for seeds, holding food, and climbing plants
The source saysThey use their front paws to sift through sand and loose soil looking for seeds, to handle food, and to climb plants.
The page saysWhen alarmed at night, the jerboa heads for its burrow or other shelter, and its bipedal walk turns into great leaps, measured at 1.5 to 3 meters long and 1 meter high
The source saysWhen alarmed at night, J. orientalis takes off towards its burrow or another safe, sheltered area. Its normal bipedal walking/running gait turns into great leaps as it flees a predator. These leaps have been measured at 1.5 to 3 m long and 1 m high.
The page saysThat leap is its only line of defense
The source saysThis is the animal's only mechanism of defense
The page saysIts diet is mostly succulent roots, sprouts, seeds and grains, plus a few cultivated vegetables and the occasional insect
The source saysfeeds primarily on succulent roots, sprouts, seeds, grains, a few cultivated vegetables, and occasional insects.
The page saysWater comes from the green plants it eats, and it can go long stretches without a drink
The source saysderives water from green vegetation and can live without drinking free-standing water for long periods of time.
The page saysHome is a burrow dug into desert sand and clay by brushing, pushing and beating away the soil, running 0.75 to 1.75 meters deep and 1 to 2.5 meters long
The source saysdig burrows into desert sand and clay by brushing away, pushing, or beating the soil. Burrows can range from 0.75 m to 1.75 m in depth and 1 to 2.5 m long.
The page sayswith a main chamber and, in most cases, an emergency exit tunnel
The source saysAll burrows have a main chamber where the jerboa lives and most have an emergency exit tunnel as well.
The page saysThe nest inside is often lined with camel hair, dry shredded plants and plant wool
The source saysThe nest is frequently lined with camel hair, dry shredded vegetation, and plant wool to keep the inhabitant warm.
The page saysIn wet winters burrows are dug into hillsides to avoid flooding, and the entrance is usually left open
The source saysIn rainy winters burrows are made on the sides of hills to avoid flooding, and the entrance is usually left open.
The page saysSummer burrows usually sit on lower ground near vegetation, with the entry hole plugged with soil, possibly to keep out snakes and warm air
The source saysIn the summertime, burrows are usually on less elevated areas near vegetation; the entry hole is plugged with soil, possibly to prevent snakes and warm air from entering.
The page saysThe jerboa emerges from its burrow in late dusk and retreats at dawn
The source saysThese jerboas emerge from their burrows during late dusk and retreat at dawn.
The page saysEarlier studies found no hypothermia or temperature-induced torpor in Jaculus, suggesting the greater jerboa was active year-round
The source saysEarlier studies observed neither hypothermia nor temperature-induced torpor in Jaculus, suggesting that J. orientalis neither hibernated nor aestivated and was active year-round.
The page saysBedouin reports suggest the animals disappear in winter, which implies long stays underground
The source saysreports by Bedouins suggest that these animals disappear in the winter, implying extended below ground occupancy of burrows.
The page saysLater investigations supported that idea and have depicted it as an ideal model for deep hibernation
The source saysLater investigations supported this hypothesis and have depicted J. orientalis as an ideal model for deep hibernation.
The page saysduring cold periods it accumulates lipid reserves and develops a seasonal obesity
The source saysduring cold periods J. orientalis accumulates lipid reserves, developing a seasonal obesity
The page saysAfter that fattening, its body temperature drops to around 9.8°C, against 37°C when active, and its heart rate falls to about 9.3 beats a minute, from around 300
The source saysFollowing this accumulation, the jerboa's body temperature decreases to around 9.8°C and the heart frequency drops to about 9.3 beats/min; an active jerboa maintains a 37°C body temperature with a heart rhythm around 300 beats/min.
The page saysIts lifespan in the wild is unknown
The source saysThe lifespan of J. orientalis in the wild is unknown
The page saysIt is found across North Africa, in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, and reaches east through Sinai into southern Israel
The source sayscan be found across North Africa in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. The species is especially common in Egypt and extends east through Sinai and into southern parts of Israel
The page saysThe first and fifth toes are missing, leaving just three long, flattened toes on each hind foot
The source saysthe first and fifth digits are missing, leaving three long, flattened toes.
The page saysThe metatarsals, the foot bones between ankle and toes, are fused into one "cannon bone"
The source saysThe metatarsal bones of the hind feet are fused together into a 'cannon bone,'
The page sayshair on the toes' sides and soles adds surface area for moving on sand
The source saysHair on the sides and bottom of toes increase the surface area of the foot and aid in locomotion on sand.
The page saysThe whole hind leg is about four times as long as the front leg and gives leverage for long jumps
The source saysThe hindlimbs are roughly four times as long as the forelimbs and are used for leverage when the animal jumps great distances.
The page saysIt gets its water from green vegetation, and it can live for long periods without drinking free-standing water
The source saysderives water from green vegetation and can live without drinking free-standing water for long periods of time.
The page saysIt stores no food and has no cheek pouches
The source saysJaculus does not store food or have cheek pouches
The page saysduring cold periods it builds up fat reserves
The source saysduring cold periods J. orientalis accumulates lipid reserves
The page saysLeaping is its only defense, and if a snake, fox, fennec or owl actually gets hold of it, the jerboa generally cannot get away
The source saysThis is the animal's only mechanism of defense, and generally it cannot get away from a predator once captured. Common predators of J. orientalis include snakes, Rüppel's foxes, fennecs, owls, and humans.
The page saysweightKg: 0.14
The source saysaverage body mass is 139.1 g.
The page saysescape leaps have been measured at 1.5 to 3 meters long and 1 meter high
The source saysThese leaps have been measured at 1.5 to 3 m long and 1 m high.
The page saysa two-legged rodent
The source saysIts normal bipedal walking/running gait

Source
02

Aulagnier 2016

Aulagnier (2016). Jaculus orientalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T10913A115518664.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysLeast ConcernNote: IUCN category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List, as the prefetch instructs
The page saysThe IUCN lists the species as Least Concern
The source saysLeast ConcernNote: IUCN category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List, as the prefetch instructs

Source
03

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

Jaculus orientalis. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysone captive jerboa lived 5.5 years
The source saysOne captive specimen lived 5.5 years

Source
04

Soukri et al. 1996

Soukri et al. (1996). Occurrence of a differential expression of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene in muscle and liver from euthermic and induced hibernating jerboa (Jaculus orientalis).

The page saysA gene study describes Jaculus orientalis as "a true hibernating rodent"
The source saysjerboa (Jaculus orientalis), a true hibernating rodent

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.