A hamster is a rodent belonging to subfamily Cricetinae. The subfamily contains about 18 species, classified in six or seven genera. Most have expandable cheek pouches, which reach from their cheeks to their shoulders.
Familiar hamsters
The best known species is the Syrian Hamster, also known as the Golden Hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, which is commonly kept as a pet. Two other varieties of hamster are also growing in popularity as pets, the Dwarf Campbell's Russian and the Winter White Russian hamsters (both subspecies of Phodopus sungorus). Two further species (the Chinese Hamster Cricetulus curtatus and the Roborovski Hamster Phodopus roborovskii) can be found on occasion.
Classification of hamsters
Taxonomists currently disagree about the most appropriate placement of the subfamily Cricetinae. Some place it in a family Cricetidae that also includes voles, lemmings and some other genera; others group all these into the larger family Muridae.
The following list of species may not be complete.
Genus Mesocricetus
- Syrian Hamster (Golden Hamster) - Mesocricetus auratus
- Turkish Hamster Mesocricetus brandti. Also called the Brandts' Hamster, Azerbajaini Hamster
- Georgian Hamster Mesocricetus raddei (Also: Ciscaucasian Hamster)
- Romanian Hamster Mesocricetus newtoni
Genus Phodopus
- Djungarian Hamster Phodopus sungorus; two subspecies are recognised, the Siberian Hamster proper or White Russian Hamster, Phodopus sungorus sungorus, and Campbell's Dwarf Russian Hamster Phodopus sungorus campbelli
- Mongolian Hamster Phodopus roborovskii, more commonly known as the Roborovskii Hamster. These tiny hamsters are now becoming popular as pets.
Genus Calomyscus
- Mouselike Hamster Calomyscus bailwardi. Sub-species include: C. bailwardi baluchi, C. bailwardi mystax, C. bailwardi urartensis
Genus Cricetus
- European Hamster Cricetus cricetus (Also called the Common Hamster or Black-bellied Field Hamster)
Genus Cricetulus
- Mongolian Hamster Cricetulus baranensis (Also: Chinese striped hamster)
- Mongolian Hamster Cricetulus curtatus
- Long-tailed Hamster Cricetulus longicaudatus
- Tibetan Hamster Cricetulus kamensis
- Kazakh Hamster Cricetulus eversmani (Also: Eversmann's Hamster)
- Chinese Hamster Cricetulus curtatus. These are now becoming popular as pets; because of their small size, they are inaccurately referred to as "dwarf" hamsters.
- Ratlike Hamster Cricetulus triton. Also: Greater Longtailed Hamster, and the Korean Hamster.
- Ladak Hamster Cricetulus alticola
- Armenian Hamster Cricetulus migratorius. Also called the Migratory Grey Hamster
- Gobi Hamster Cricetulus obscurus
- Transbaikal Hamster - Cricetulus pseudogriseus
Genus Mystromys
- South African Hamster Mystromys albicaudatus
Animals that are not really hamsters
Note that there are some rodents sometimes called "hamsters" that are not currently classified in the hamster subfamily Cricetinae. These include
- Maned Hamster, or Crested Hamster, which is really the Maned Rat Lophiomys imhausi (although not nearly as marketable under that name.)
External links
Hamster is a computer jargon term referring to a cordless computer mouse that uses radio or infrared technology. The name derives from the fact that hamsters are similar to mice but lack tails.
Hamster is also programming jargon for a small self contained piece of code, like a hamster running in its wheel.
