gerbil

This term refers specifically to a small, desert-dwelling rodent characterized by its long tail and burrowing habits. In common usage, it is almost exclusively associated with the pet trade, evoking images of sawdust-filled cages and exercise wheels.

Because it is a standard countable noun, it follows regular English pluralization rules. It does not possess the irregular plural forms found in some other animal names, such as fish or sheep, and is treated as a distinct individual entity in every grammatical context.