The difference between Gerbil and Jerboa

When used as nouns, gerbil means one of several species of small, jumping, murine rodents, of the genus and certain other genera in subfamily gerbillinae, with leaping powers resembling the jerboa, native to africa, india, and southern europe, whereas jerboa means any of a number of species comprising most of the family dipodidae, native to the deserts of asia and northern africa, being a small, jumping rodent with a long tufted tail, very small forefeet and very long hind legs.


Gerbil is also verb with the meaning: to rotate inside a monowheel or similar apparatus due to sudden acceleration or braking.

check bellow for the other definitions of Gerbil and Jerboa

  1. Gerbil as a noun:

    One of several species of small, jumping, murine rodents, of the genus and certain other genera in subfamily Gerbillinae, with leaping powers resembling the jerboa, native to Africa, India, and Southern Europe.

  1. Gerbil as a verb (intransitive):

    To rotate inside a monowheel or similar apparatus due to sudden acceleration or braking.

  2. Gerbil as a verb (intransitive, slang):

    To insert a small animal into one's rectum (a sexual practice in urban myth).

  1. Jerboa as a noun:

    Any of a number of species comprising most of the family Dipodidae, native to the deserts of Asia and northern Africa, being a small, jumping rodent with a long tufted tail, very small forefeet and very long hind legs.

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