gerboise

gerboise is feminine in French.

jerboa

“La tête ressemble assez à celles des petites gerboises ; il y a des moustaches autour de la gueule et aux angles des yeux.” — The head looks quite similar to that of small jerboas. There are whiskers around the snout and at the corners of the eyes.

First known attestation 1655 as ierbuah, from Maghrebi Arabic جَرْبُوع (jarbūʕ).