Chad Towne, age 13, of Birmingham, Ala., for his question:

HOW LARGE IS A GERBIL?

A gerbil is a furry, mouse like animal that jumps around like a tiny kangaroo. Gerbils grow from four to five inches long, not including their equally long tail.

Gerbils live wild in dry sandy parts of Africa and southwestern Asia. Colonies or groups of gerbils live together in long tunnels under the ground. They plug the entrances with earth to keep the tunnels from drying out.

The small creatures come out at night and look for food. They eat seeds, leaves and roots, and need very little water.

A female gerbil will give birth to about four young as often as once a month.

Gerbils are clean, good tempered, playful and inquisitive. Many people keep them as pets.

Gerbils have sandy colored fur, long hind legs and a tuft of hair at the end of the tail. Each animal lives for about four years.