New species discovered.

The unusual animal was photographed in the Gobi desert during an expedition led by Dr Baillie from London Zoo. Until now, the creatures had proven extremely difficult to study, thanks to their minuscule size, nocturnal nature and the harsh desert environment that they inhabit.
Dr Baillie told the BBC that he was "ecstatic" to have tracked down the jerboas.

"These creatures hop just like a kangaroo; it is amazing to watch. Little hairs on their feet, almost like snow shoes, allow them to jump along the sand," he explained.
"And in terms of mammals, they have one of the biggest ear-to-body ratios out there."

The creatures spend daylight hours burrowed down in underground tunnels beneath the sand, and their diet is mostly made up of insects.

"The long-eared jerboa is a bit like the Mickey Mouse of the desert, cute and comic in equal measure," Dr Baillie said.

By setting pitfall traps, the researchers were also able to look at the rodents close-up and to begin to estimate their population.

He added that although there was still much to learn about the rare rodent it was already believed to be under threat from habitat disturbance.

"These amazing, remarkable creatures are on the verge of extinction and we know almost nothing about them," warned Dr Baillie. He added that it was important not to overlook desert habitats in conservation.

"Everyone thinks the desert is a totally desolate area, void of biodiversity, and often when conservation planning is done, deserts are overlooked.

"But there are some remarkable species in the desert, so we really need to start paying attention to this environment."