Interspecies relationships of Meriones meridianus and Meriones libycus in an experimental group

Spatial and social relations in a joint group of Meriones meridianus and M. libycus kept in a large enclosure were studied. Interspecies interrelation s were rare and amounted to 12.3% of the total registered social contacts ( n = 1730). Peaceful relations were uncommon (n = 12), aggressive contact:, and avoidance were characteristic of voles. In joint keeping each of two ge rbil species maintains specific spatial and social structure. Despite princ ipal similarity of social structures in gerbil males, there was not unitary social structure in the joint group. There was no domination of one specie s over the others. In natural syntopic of Meriones meridianus and M. libycu s populations direct interspecies social contacts seem to be very rare, the y can not be the basis of the united interspecies social structure.