Tony Phelps / Cape cobra (Naja nivea) emerging from a Cape gerbil (Gerbilliscus afra) burrow, hunting and smelling with its tongue, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa, January.

Alain Dragesco-Joffe / Sundevall's jird (Meriones crassus) Sahara Desert, Algeria.

Konstantin Mikhailov / Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) in its natural habitat, the Northern Gobi Desert, Mongolia, August. This species is commonly kept as a pet.

Konstantin Mikhailov / Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) in its natural habitat, the Northern Gobi Desert, Mongolia, August. This species is commonly kept as a pet.

Konstantin Mikhailov / Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) in its natural habitat, the Northern Gobi Desert, Mongolia, August. This species is commonly kept as a pet.

Jane Burton / Agouti Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) mother with baby, against white background

Konrad Wothe / Libyan jird (Meriones lybicus) next to vehicle tyre, Libya, Sahara, North Africa, December

Konrad Wothe / Libyan jird (Meriones lybicus) running, Libya, Sahara, North Africa, December

ASHISH & SHANTHI CHANDOLA / Indian desert jird / gerbil (Meriones hurrianae) at burrow entrance, Kutch, Gujarat, India, April

Konrad Wothe / Jird (Meriones sp) resting in shadow of rock, Libya

Konrad Wothe / Jird (Meriones sp) resting on sand, Libya

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / King jird {Meriones rex} in rocks, Kawkaban, Yemen