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Expert: Jonathan Wright - 5/31/2007


Question
Hi, my dad is in Iraq right now and today he was telling me about this animal that he saw. He is around the anbar providence area, and he is near Ramadi. He said that he couldn't determine what it was, but it looked like a dog or a rabbit. When it ran away, it ran on its two hind legs and was very very fast. I can't figure out what kind of animal this is, so could you help me?

Answer
Dear Sara

Thanks for your question. I must admit that this is the first question I've received about animals in Iraq. The London Zoo Library has a big book on the subject, but I don't have access to it at present. I also wish to than the authors of the websites I used.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammals_in_Iraq has a list of wild mammals found in Iraq.

There doesn't seem to be a species that looks both like a dog and a rabbit, although there are one or two species of hares.  Please note that the European hare is sometimesa classified as a separate species (Lepus europaeus) or is included within Lepus capensis. There is information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Hare The European hare usually moves on all fours, but males can box each other while they stand on their long hind legs.

There are several species of gerbils, which can move about on their hind legs. Field mice (Apodemus) also occasionally move on their hind limbs.

The most likely candidate is the Euphrates jerboa (Allactage euphratica). http://piclib.nhm.ac.uk/piclib/www/image.php?search=rodent&getprev=88862 has a picture and the jerboa has a slight resemblance to a rabbit, but I can't see any real likeness to a dog. Olivia Fanny Tonge said that the jerboa's "pace is such that, making great hops, it outdistances a horse in speed". http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Allactaga_euphra... says that its body length is 230 to 310 mm and the tail length is 144 to 195 mm.   It has great agility and speed, which it uses to escape from predators. Another form of defence is to jump off their hind legs into the air (bounding) energetically, when it is aroused. When it is relaxed, it walks slowly on its hind limbs.   

I hope this is the correct animal, despite it not really resembling a dog. If this doesn't meet the description, please send me more details, such as colour, body and tail length and height.

All the best

Jonathan

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Jonathan Wright

Expertise

I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.

Experience

I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.

Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.

Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group

Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.

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