Scientists have caputured what they believe is the first footage of the jerboa, a tiny mammal that resides in the harsh desert environments in Mongolia and China. A team, led by Dr. Jonathan Baillie of the Zoological Society of London, recorded the footage while on an expedition in the Gobi  desert. Baillie says the footage will allow scientists to study the species, which has been identified as endangered by the IUCN Red list.

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

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