In Mongolia and China there is a small and unique rodent, the long-eared gerbil ( Euchoreutes naso ), which by its appearance is reminiscent of the popular mouse created by the American animator Walt Disney. Its body is between 7 and 9 cm long, while its tail, thin and very long, reaches 18 to 25 cm in length. It has very short front legs shorter than the rear, which allows it to jump in the sand in the inhospitable places of the Gobi desert . And it sports "rabbit ears" that are extremely large compared to its triangular head.
Due to its nocturnal habits, among other things, it was not until 2007 that this species was filmed for the first time. The leader of the expedition of the Zoological Society of London that found it, Johnathan Baille, assured then that we were before a true "Mickey Mouse of the desert". And he has stayed with that nickname.
Currently, the species is on the red list of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) , as it is in danger of extinction.
