5 Species Of Hamster
Hamsters are very popular animals, especially among children. These rodents are friendly, independent and easy to care for. However, few people know that there are different domestic species and that each has a different character.
Characteristics of all hamster species
Hamsters belong to a subspecies of rodents and there are about twenty breeds, although only five are known as domestic breeds. Most hail from the Middle East and southeastern United States, although they have spread, as pets, almost all over the world.
The hamster family differs from other rodents because of the inflatable sacs between the cheeks and shoulders and in which they can accumulate and carry food; when full, the animal appears to double in size.
Each hamster species has different sizes – the Syrian hamster is the largest, but there are also dwarf specimens. The size can vary to the point that the Syrian hamster can weigh 180 grams, while the Russian hamster barely reaches 40 grams.
Hamsters have a life expectancy ranging from one and a half to three years. In some cases they live up to four years, but it is infrequent.
They are solitary animals that do not need to live in groups, although some can live with similar ones. However, due to their great reproductive capacity, it is better to have them live in separate cages, in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
Domestic hamster species
1. Golden or Syrian hamster
As the name indicates, the Syrian hamster is one of the species originating from the Middle East. Among the domestic breeds it is the largest : it weighs between 100 and 180 grams and can reach 15 centimeters in length.
They are also called golden because they usually have light colored hair. However, they can also be of other colors and some specimens also have longer hair. It is a territorial breed that does not easily tolerate coexistence in the same cage with other animals.
2. Campbell’s dwarf
This hamster species originates from the steppes of Central Asia, in territories that belong to both China and Russia. It is half the size of the Syrian hamster, with smaller, rounder ears.
It is usually gray in color with a lighter or even white belly. It easily adapts to live as a couple or in small groups. Since it is so small, it is slippery and very active.
3. Russian or white dwarf
It is often confused with Campbell’s dwarf hamster and also hails from the Russian steppes, although in this case it is native to southwestern Siberia.
One of the characteristics that define it is common to animals that live in cold climates: during the winter it changes its usual coat to a white one. This allows it to retain all the heat it receives during the day from the sun.
During the summer or warm seasons it is gray or brown in color with a slightly lighter belly. Usually on the back it has a darker colored stripe.
It is one of the most sociable and docile species of hamster with humans, perhaps for this reason it is among the most common as a pet.
4. Roborovsky
Roborovsky hamsters are the smallest of this class of rodents, measuring just nine centimeters. They have a very small white tail, between 6 and 11 millimeters long.
Like other hamster species, it comes from the Asian part of Russia, but its adaptation to cold occurs through hibernation: this rodent sleeps during the cold months. When awake, it is a particularly energetic and active animal.
It is gray or brown in color with a lighter or white belly. On the eyes it has a small white spot and the soles of the hind legs are hairy.
5. Chinese hamster
Of all these animals, it is the one with the longest tail : it measures about one centimeter, while all other hamster species have very short tails.
It is not a dwarf hamster, it is of medium size, in fact it is between 10 and 12 centimeters long and weighs between 35 and 45 grams. This species does not hibernate, although in winter it prefers to be active at night and rest during the day.
It is usually reddish brown in color with a dark line running from the head to the tail, but it can also be white with reddish or gray markings.
Hamsters are very popular pets, especially in homes with children. However, they are elusive animals that need to be treated with kindness and consistency to adapt to humans. Like any animal, they are not toys and must be given the care they deserve.
