Animal burrows contain peculiar ecosystems. The rodent burrows are often inhabited by many arthropod species, including beetles (Coleoptera). During our research in Turkmenistan (1976–1988) beetle communities of the burrow of two gerbil species (Meriones libycus and Rhombomys opimus) were studied. A total, 56 beetle species from 11 families were found in gerbil burrows. Among those, 11 species (19.6%) are bothrobionts: Aleochara jacobsoni, Atheta flagellicornis, Coprophilus dimidiatipennis, Sunius nidicola (Staphylinidae), Erebidus vlasovi, Pholioxenus phoenix (Histeridae), Onthophagus psychopompus, Ontho¬phagus vlasovi, Orodaliscus transaralicus (Scarabaeidae), Attagenus duplex (Dermestidae) and Cryptophagus quadrimaculatus (Cryptophagidae).