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Mongolian jird vision: the science and the numbers

Meriones unguiculatus · order Rodentia · Mammals: all the numbers

Gerbils have 3 colour receptor classes (360, 493 and 512 nm), one of them in the ultraviolet.[1][2] Their sharpest vision resolves 1.8 cycles per degree, against 63.75 for people in this dataset.[6] Both eyes see the same 48° in front of them.[8]

See it on your photoBack to How do gerbils see?
  • 3colour receptor classesMeasured
  • 1.8cycles per degree (sharpness)Measured
  • 48°seen by both eyesMeasured

The Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus) is a mammal in the order Rodentia. Its eyes belong to the vision type Small prey mammal (UV): two or three cone types, often including ultraviolet, low sharpness and a near-panoramic field. Measured in this species: colour, sharpness, field of view, foveas and night vision. Measured core: measured values on at least 3 of the 6 dials.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What gerbils see: colour receptors

Mongolian jird colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmMongolian jird: 3 receptor peaks at 360, 493, 512 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Mongolian jird: 360, 493, 512 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • It has three colour receptor classes, like most people, but one of them sees ultraviolet.
  • Its sharpest vision resolves 1.8 cycles per degree: the finest stripe pattern it can tell apart from grey.
  • Both eyes see the same 48° in front of it (binocular overlap), where depth is judged best.
  • Activity pattern: cathemeral.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
3 receptor classes: 360 nm (UVS), 493 nm (MWS (green)), 512 nm (MWS (green))
measured in this species
Measured[1][2]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[1][3][4][5]
Ultraviolet
yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet		Measured
SharpnessAcuity
1.8 cycles per degree
median of 1 behavioural rows (method priority rule)
Measured[6]Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[7][6]
Field of viewBinocular overlap
48°
median of 1 rows (eyes-at-rest rows preferred)
Measured[8]Binocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[9][8]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[10]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[10]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[9][8]
Eye placement
lateral
frontal if binocular overlap >= 60 deg, else lateral
Derived[8]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
0
fovea_present / area_centralis_type (retinal topography; count 1 = fovea present, 0 = none)
Measured[11]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[11]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[11]
Fovea type
horizontal streak		Measured[11]
Night visionActivity pattern
cathemeral
mode of 5 rows (of 6 rows): cathemeral; mixed (nocturnal/crepuscular, cathemeral, crepuscular or diurnal/crepuscular)
Measured (not re-verified)[12][1][13][14][15][6]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[16][17][12][1][13][14][18][15]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[19][20]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[21]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[16][17][12][1][13][14][18][15]
Pupil shape
circular		Group default[19]
Reflective layer (tapetum)
no		Estimated[22][23]
Rods vs cones
mixed
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[12][1][13][14][15][6]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
46.15 Hz
median of 2 relatives in family Muridae: Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus
Estimated[24]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[25][26]

All mammals side by side: Mammals: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Longcore 2023
  2. VPOD in-vivo (MSP / single-cell) lambda… 2025
  3. Kirwan
  4. Müller et al. 2009
  5. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  6. Veilleux et al. 2014
  7. Kirk et al. 2004
  8. Heffner et al. 1992
  9. Heesy 2004
  10. Campbell & Green 1965
  11. Kopania et al. 2025
  12. Wilman et al. 2014
  13. Maor et al. 2017
  14. Jones et al. 2009
  15. Moura et al. 2024
  16. Anderson et al. 2017
  17. Borges et al. 2018
  18. Schmitz et al. 2011
  19. Banks et al. 2015
  20. Cervino et al. 2021
  21. Guareschi et al. 2025
  22. Healy et al. 2013
  23. Nomura et al. 2019
  24. Lafitte et al. 2022
  25. Healy et al. 2013
  26. Inger et al. 2014

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.