Almost everywhere you walk on the gravel plains of the central Namib, you will find clusters of burrows. These patches of mouse-sized holes in the ground are often associated with stands of denser vegetation. These burrows are almost always the work of the hairy-footed gerbil (Gerbilliscus setzeri), a species that is widespread in the Namib Desert but does not occur elsewhere. Although this Namib resident weighs only 30-40g with a total body length of 27cm (over half of which is tail), it packs a big ecological punch!