Jerboas are small jumping rodents that resemble mice with long tufted tails and very long hind legs. The long-eared jerboa can be distinguished from other jerboas by its enormous ears, which are about a third larger than the head. The fur is reddish yellow to pale russet above, rather than the sandy or buff colour of most jerboas. The tail is long and covered in short hairs that are the same colour as the body. There is a tuft of longer hairs at the end of the tail which are coloured white at the beginning, black in the middle of the tuft, and white again at the tip. Each hind foot has five toes. The soles of the feet have tufts of stiff hairs which act as friction pads to support the animal on loose sand.