Mesocricetus
Golden hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus)
The funds hamster ( Mesocricetus ) are a genus of mammals of the subfamily of the hamsters ( Cricetinae ). The distribution of the genus is restricted to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. It comprises four species, one of which Hamster is the best known.
Features
All species are significantly smaller than the native in Central Europe European hamster. It is squat hamsters with short legs and small feet, relatively large ears and back pockets and a very short tail. The head-body length is 120-280 mm and tail length 13-39 mm. The animals weighing 80-320 g All species have black markings at least on the sides of the back of the head. The females have 7-11 pairs of mammary glands. There are 16 teeth present, the dental formula is 1/1, 0/ 0, 0 / 0, 3 /3 System.
Distribution and habitat
The genus is restricted to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor; two of the four species have very small distribution areas. Means hamsters are mainly inhabitants of barren steppes, but also colonize meadows and fields.
System
The genus comprises four species:
- Turkish hamsters ( Mesocricetus brandti ) - Turkey, south of the Caucasus in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran, also an isolated population in the North Caucasus in the south of Daghestan
- Golden hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus) - around Aleppo.
- Black Chest hamsters ( Mesocricetus raddei ) - northern slopes of the Caucasus and upstream lowlands.
- Romanian hamster ( Mesocricetus newtoni ) - eastern Romania and northern Bulgaria.
Way of life
Means Hamsters are crepuscular and nocturnal. The animals are solitary and lay deep burrows with sleeping and pantries. They are omnivores that feed on green plant parts, seeds, fruits, invertebrates and occasionally small vertebrates. All species hibernate.