Half-hearted cry of derision when meeting snake and rodent (6)
I believe the answer is:
jerboa
'rodent' is the definition.
(jerboa is a kind of rodent)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for jerboa that I've seen before include "Desert rodent" , "Mouse-like jumping rodent - ear job (anag)" , "Desert-dwelling rodent" .)