One extinct hamster of Cricetus, for example, lived in North Africa during the Middle Miocene, but the only extant member of that genus is the European or common hamster of Eurasia. Wild populations are restricted to a small area of the Middle East. Hamsters are rodents (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 19 species classified in seven genera. What really are pudding hamsters?? Hamsters have poor eyesight; they are nearsighted and colorblind. Common name i: Chinese hamster: Synonym i: Cricetulus barabensis griseus: Other names i ›CHO cell lines ›Chinese hamsters ›Cricetulus aureus ›Cricetulus griseus (Milne-Edwards, 1867) Rank i: SPECIES: Lineage i Two species of hamster belonging to the genus Phodopus, Campbell's dwarf hamster (P. campbelli) and the Djungarian hamster (P. sungorus), and two of the genus Cricetulus, the Chinese striped hamster (C. barabensis) and the Chinese hamster (C. griseus) have a dark stripe down their heads to their tails. This might not be very visible in all species. THX! The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) of Syria is commonly kept as a pet. However, the differences in behavioral, chronobiological, morphometrical, hematological, and biochemical parameters are relatively small and fall into the expected range of interstrain variations in other laboratory animals. Russian Dwarf Hamster refers to two species of hamster.The Winter White and the Campbell’s Dwarf Hamster. Hamsters are capable of producing litters every month. Their analysis included all four species, with M. auratus and M. raddei forming one subclade and M. brandti and M. newtoni another. Male hamsters typically have very large testes in relation to their body size. Some pet stores (especially those in the US) sell hamsters under false names in order to charge more money for them, knowing the different species can help you to avoid this common scam. Years later, animals of this original breeding colony were exported to the US, where Syrian hamsters became a common pet and laboratory animal. Hamsters that live in the wild eat seeds, grass, and even insects. The Syrian hamster was the first tobe used in a laboratory, and the first to be domesticated and kept as apet. Males (or boy hamsters) should have male and cute sounding names because they are the dominant male of the species and should have a name to represent his dominant nature. Hamsters can sense movement around at all times. Hamsters are thought to be originally from the desert lands of east Asia, including hamster species such as the common Syrian hamster and the miniature Russian dwarf hamster. In some cases, male hamsters can die after being attacked by the female. Hi, you have been thinking of getting a hamster now I am sure you have done your research right? [2] They use their fore- and hindlegs, as well as their snouts and teeth, for digging. This occurs even when hamsters are kept as pets and is related to an increase in exercise. Other hamster species commonly kept as pets are the three species of dwarf hamster, Campbell's dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli), the winter white dwarf hamster (Phodopus sungorus) and the Roborovski hamster (Phodopus roborovskii). They have thick, silky fur, which can be long or short, colored black, grey, honey, white, brown, yellow, red, or a mix, depending on the species. Syrian: most common and is known for being a good first-time hamster 2.Chinese hamster… A hamster name for “X-Files” fans who know the truth is out there. [11][better source needed]. Golden HamsterFancy HamsterTeddybear HamsterStandard Hamster. Hamsters are more crepuscular than nocturnal and, in the wild, remain underground during the day to avoid being caught by predators. YES! Russian hamsters (Campbell's and Djungarian) live about two to four years in captivity, and Chinese hamsters 2 1⁄2–3 years. Two of the dwarf hamsters belonging to the genus Phodopus (Phodopus campbelli), Campbell's Dwarf Hamster, and Phodo… They uncovered the following relationships:[5]. Hamster colours are known as either agouti or self. [3] The Roborovski hamster (Phodopus roborovskii) is extremely small and fast, making it difficult to keep as a pet. The genus species name for the hamster most often used in biomedical research is: semiarid regions of eurpoe and asia minor. Females are in estrus about every four days, which is indicated by a reddening of genital areas, a musky smell, and a hissing, squeaking vocalisation she will emit if she believes a male is nearby. Contact Us | Terms of Use | Cookies. Syrian hamsters are the most common hamster you think of. [8], Wild hamsters will also appropriate tunnels made by other mammals; the Djungarian hamster, for instance, uses paths and burrows of the pika. Golden hamsters are ubiquitous worldwide as pets and research animals. When examined, female hamsters have their anal and genital openings close together, whereas males have these two holes farther apart (the penis is usually withdrawn into the coat and thus appears as a hole or pink pimple).[3]. [21], All hamsters are excellent diggers, constructing burrows with one or more entrances, with galleries connected to chambers for nesting, food storage, and other activities. Normal adults are 5-7 inches long (13-18 cm) and weigh around 120-125 g. The Syrian hamster is also known as the ‘teddy bear’ hamster, t… [24], Syrian hamsters typically live no more than two to three years in captivity, and less in the wild. Why is it so popular? Winter white hamsters tend to have slightly smaller litters, as do Chinese and Roborovski hamsters. They have thick, silky fur, which can be long or short, colored black, grey, honey, white, brown, yellow, red, or a mix, depending on the species. If you are planning to buy a hamster or already have one, here are some cute hamster names to choose from. Their range is very limited and you can only find them… Neumann et al. [16], Hamsters can be described as nocturnal or crepuscular (active mostly at dawn and dusk). These two appear similar to each other and are often confused. Inside the cage they need to have absorbent bedding, water and food dish, and an exercise wheel to keep them active. Coco. [17], A hamster show is an event in which people gather hamsters to judge them against each other. The smaller Roborovski hamster often lives to three years in captivity. Mother hamsters can also use their sense of smell to find her own babies and find out which ones aren't hers, the scent glands can also be used to mark their territories such as their babies or their mate. The members of this family are often collectively called [19] Dwarf hamsters breed all through the year. Hamster shows feature an exhibition of the hamsters participating in the judging. The most well known species of hamster is the Syrian or Golden Hamster and they are the species that are most commonly kept as pets. 1. The golden or Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a rodent belonging to the hamster subfamily, Cricetinae. [3], When seen from above, a sexually mature female hamster has a trim tail line; a male's tail line bulges on both sides. The species of genus Phodopus are the smallest, with bodies 5.5 to 10.5 centimetres (2 1⁄4 to 4 1⁄4 in) long; the largest is the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), measuring up to 34 cm (13 1⁄2 in) long, not including a short tail of up to 6 cm (2 1⁄2 in). These littermates were captured and imported in 1930 from Aleppo in Syria by Israel Aharoni, a zoologist of the University of Jerusalem. The female's reproductive life lasts about 18 months, but male hamsters remain fertile much longer. 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