Meriones Unguiculatus, commonly known as the Mongolian gerbil or desert rat, has several synonyms depending on the region and language. Some of its synonyms include sand rat, dune rat, jird, short-tailed gerbil, and four-toed gerbil. In Arabic, it is called "jahida," while in Hebrew, it is known as "tzviyon." In some areas of Mongolia and China, it is referred to as "shui hua," meaning "water painting," due to its sandy-colored fur. The gerbil's scientific name, Meriones Unguiculatus, also serves as a synonym for the species. Regardless of what it's called, the Mongolian gerbil is a popular pet and research animal known for its sociable nature and playful behavior.