Gansu hamster

The Gansu Hamster ( Cansumys canus) is a largely unknown rodent species of the subfamily of the hamsters ( Cricetinae ).

The comparatively shaggy coat of this Hamsterart is colored ice gray at the top and provided with black speckles, the underside is white and gray chest and chin are colored completely white. The tail is longer than in closely related genera ( the horror and rat -like dwarf hamsters ) and strikingly büschig. A special feature within the hamster make the hochkonigen molars dar. These animals reach a body length of 14 centimeters and a tail length of 11 centimeters.

For a long time the way by only two animals known, an adult female and a cub that were found in the southern Chinese province of Gansu. More recently, another representative of this species was discovered in Shaanxi Province.

Systematically, the findings have long been regarded as conspecific with the rat -like hamster, only detailed studies in the 1990s, came to the conclusion that due to differences in the structure of the skull and teeth of its own species and genera status is justified.

Over the life of these animals is not known.