The specific palearctic ecozone areas they are found in are southernmost Mongolia to the Takla-Makan Desert, Mengxin, Aerijin Mountain, and Qing-Zang Plateau regions of north western China.

Their tails are covered in fine hairs the same color as their body and have a black and white tuft on the end.

The long-eared jerboa was identified as one of the top-10 "focal species" in 2007 by the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) project.

[5] In 2007 Zoological Society of London EDGE of Existence Programme sent a researcher to study human impact on its environment.

The study returned with video footage that has been noted as the "first time" the creature has been "recorded on camera".