Molecular phylogeny of the Palearctic hamsters. Four of the seven living genera include extinct species. Syrian hamsters dig their burrows generally at a depth of 0.7 m.[22] A burrow includes a steep entrance pipe (4–5 cm in diameter), a nesting and a hoarding chamber and a blind-ending branch for urination. Hamster, (subfamily Cricetinae), any of 18 Eurasian species of rodents possessing internal cheek pouches.The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) of Syria is commonly kept as a pet.Hamsters are stout-bodied, with a tail much shorter than their body length, … •In 1930, a female and her 11 pups with eyes still closed were obtained near Allepo, Syria and brought to the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and, from the surviving four littermates, the entire domesticated world population of hamsters was developed. Like its rodent brothers, rat and mouse, hamster is currently one of the most frequently used lab animals. 1. a rodent somewhat like a mouse but larger. Hamsters belong to the largest and most diversified order of Mammalia class, the Rodentia. As a nocturnal animal hamsters prefer to be active during the night time hours. The female's reproductive life lasts about 18 months, but male hamsters remain fertile much longer. Syrian hamsters are seasonal breeders and will produce several litters a year with several pups in each litter. European hamsters have cheek pouches large enough to fill 20-30 grams of food and can be filled with air which makes them good swimmers. They are native to Russia, China, and Mongolia, where they were only discovered in 1917. Hamsters do best with fruits that don't have a lot of citrus in them and most green leafy vegetables. This occurs even when hamsters are kept as pets and is related to an increase in exercise. [19] Hamsters are hindgut fermenters and eat their own feces (coprophagy) to recover nutrients digested in the hind-gut, but not absorbed. Hamsters can be found in dry, open habitats such as deserts, steppes, open plains, rocky foothills, gardens, orchards and agricultural fields. The average litter size for Syrian hamsters is about seven pups, but can be as great as 24, which is the maximum number of pups that can be contained in the uterus. In their natural habitat, they prefer to be alone and are nocturnal so bonding with humans can be a challenge since they do not like to be awakened during the day. Let us Know the Types of Hamsters Among the Dwarf Hamsters are the Russian hamster, the Roborovski Hamster, the Campbell’s hamster, and the Chinese hamster. The Chinese Striped hamster is native to central and eastern Asia and makes a home in aris and semiarid grasslands and steppe. When full, the cheeks can make their heads double, or even triple in size. Allocricetulus and Cricetus were sister taxa. If there were no controls over the keeping and importation of potential pest animals, some Hamsters are originally indigenous to the Middle East, China and Southeastern Europe.As they breed well in captivity and are easy to look after, hamsters make good family pets. Also known as the Tibetan hamsters, the Ladak hamster is native to Tibet, China, Nepal, and India. Most of the hamsters sold as pets today are the descendants of 3 littermates caught in 1930. The little rodents must also cope with poor eyesight which forces them to rely on their sense of smell which is used to pick up the smell from their scent glands located on their backs. [2], The best-known species of hamster is the golden or Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), which is the type most commonly kept as pets. Golden (Syrian) Hamsters Originated from the Middle Eastern Country Of Syria. The European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), also known as the Eurasian hamster, black-bellied hamster or common hamster, is the only species of the genus Cricetus. They feed primarily on seeds, fruits, and vegetation, and will occasionally eat burrowing insects. A burrow is a series of underground tunnels and chambers animals dig and use for various purposes. Fritzsche, Peter. Some similar rodents sometimes called "hamsters" are not currently classified in the hamster subfamily Cricetinae. First discovered in Syria, hamsters are native to many parts of the world. It may surprise even the animal lover that is most-savvy to understand that hamsters are domesticated as pets and that there are 26 species of hamsters living in the wild in areas of the Middle East, Asia and Europe, in accordance with National Geographic. Comfortable quarters for hamsters in research institutions. [15] Hamsters also use their sense of smell to distinguish between the sexes, and to locate food. Wild Syrian hamsters are listed as “vulnerable” due to their reduced numbers. They live in arid habitats and can be found in orchards, farmlands, and gardens up to the elevation of 12000 feet above sea level. [19] Dwarf hamsters breed all through the year. It is 39–46 g in weight and 9 cm long at adulthood.Its life span is 2.5–3.0 years under laboratory conditions. Length of Ladak hamsters: approximately 3.5 to 5 inches (89 to 127 millimeters) The weight of Ladak hamsters: approximately 1.2 to 1.6 ounces (34 to 45 grams) According to the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, hamsters transported from Syria to the U.S way back in 1936 became known as some of the first domesticated species of hamster. The hamsters native habitat is the deserts of Asia. The term "hamster" is derived from the German word “hamstern,” which means "to hoard.” The term fits hamsters perfectly, because they hoard food. But where do these lovable little creatures originally come from? In their native territories, hamsters have to travel great distances to find food, a fact that explains domestic hamsters' need for lots of exercise. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com, 8 Wild Animals That Are Extinct In The Wild. The importation and keeping of some animals as pets is restricted by legislation. Taxonomists generally disagree about the most appropriate placement of the subfamily Cricetinae within the superfamily Muroidea. Hamsters have poor eyesight; they are nearsighted and colorblind. Wet-tail in hamsters. In 1930, a female and her litter were obtained in Syria and brought to Israel, and, from this family, the domesticated hamster was developed. [14] They are also particularly sensitive to high-pitched noises and can hear and communicate in the ultrasonic range. native animals. However, they do not live in western Chile or most of the Amazon River. View this answer. Cricetulus migratorius was their next closest relative, and Tscherskia was basal. They forage for food regularly, storing their finds in their pouches until they can carry it back to their dens. Hamsters communicate through body language to one another and even to their owner. [14] Hamsters have scent glands on their flanks (and abdomens in Chinese and dwarf hamsters) which they rub against the substrate, leaving a scent trail. Female Chinese and Syrian hamsters are known for being aggressive toward males if kept together for too long after mating. A doctor cataloging plants and creatures found near Aleppo, Syria, at the mid-1700s hamsters. Starting from the 1939, hamsters are kept as house pets and used as laboratory animals. B. Poltoraus. Their analysis included all four species, with M. auratus and M. raddei forming one subclade and M. brandti and M. newtoni another. [11][better source needed]. They are found native on all continent [3], When seen from above, a sexually mature female hamster has a trim tail line; a male's tail line bulges on both sides. Hamster: Hamsters are mammals that belong to the taxonomic order 'Rodentia,' and the family 'Cricetidae.' [10] The collective noun for a group of hamsters is "horde". Hamsters that live in the wild eat seeds, grass, and even insects. A solitary burrowing rodent with a short tail and large cheek pouches for carrying food, native to Europe and northern Asia. In Syria the wild golden hamster has been designated as being vulnerable to extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' Red List. They are often kept as pets or used in scientific work and are native to Europe and Asia. If hamsters were introduced into the wild, they could have a serious impact on native plants and animals. Hamsters are originally indigenous to the Middle East, China and Southeastern Europe.As they breed well in captivity and are easy to look after, hamsters make good family pets. Publications Inc., NJ. They communicate by sending a specific scent using their scent glands and also show body language to express how they are feeling. Hamsters were living in relative obscurity until just 70 years ago, when a zoologist discovered a family of these rodents in the Syrian desert. Originally, hamsters were native to Asia Minor, Siberia, north China, and the Middle East. Their natural geographical range is limited to a small arid region of northern Syria and southern Turkey. pp.33-37, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, s.v. There are presently about twenty four different hamster species which vary in size. The hamster natural habitat is agriculture. The most common rodent pet, the Golden Hamster, is native to Syria. Mother hamsters can also use their sense of smell to find their own babies and find out which ones aren't theirs. As the name suggests, wild Syrian hamsters are native to an area outside of Aleppo, Syria where they live near agricultural areas in extensive burrows up to two feet underground. Hamsters are small rodents that belong to the subfamily Cricetinae. Hamsters are most active at night, when they can scurry around picking up seeds and vegetable matter under cover of darkness. British zoologist Leonard Goodwin claimed most hamsters kept in the United Kingdom were descended from the colony he introduced for medical research purposes during the Second World War. The Russian Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus campbelli) are native to the steppes and semi-arid areas of central Asia, the Altay Mountains and northeastern China. They forage for food regularly, storing their finds in their pouches until they can carry it back to their dens. The European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) is a small rodent native to Eurasia.