Why is this animal unusual?
It moves only on its back legs, in huge bounds. Some species can jump around 10 ft (3 m) in a single leap and zigzag wildly to confuse predators.
Why does it look like that?
Back legs about four times longer than the front ones, with the foot bones fused into one strong spring. The long tufted tail works as a balance pole.
Strangest biological feature
A body that needs no drinking water. Jerboas get all the moisture they need from their food.
Why is it strange?
The long-eared jerboa has ears that are about two-thirds as long as its body – among the biggest ears, for its size, of any mammal. It was filmed in the wild for the first time only in 2007.
Interesting behavioral facts
They spend the hot day in burrows, often plugging the entrance with sand to keep the cool, damp air in.
