Possible Clues:

• Desert springs keep it going
• Short sharp tug, and snake gets a rodent
• Oddjob: without hesitation, a rat-like creature
• Mouse-like jumping rodent — ear job (anag)
• Hopping Saharan rodent
• With short sudden movement snake gets rodent
• Jumping rodent found in deserts
• Half-hearted cry of derision when meeting snake and rodent
• Desert rodent — ear job (anag)
• Jeremy begins to have a jumper round his neck - so constricting! (6)