Tibetan dwarf hamster
The Ladakh Dwarf Hamster dwarf hamster or Indian ( Cricetulus alticola ) is an entity belonging to the Tibetan dwarf hamsters type of hamster. In some classifications it is assigned to the Kham- dwarf hamster or dwarf hamster Tibet. In other classifications him Cricetulus Tibetanus is assigned. He inhabits the western part of the Tibetan plateau in China, in western Nepal and in the extreme north of India.
Body characteristics
The head-body length of Ladakh dwarf hamster is 80 to 98 mm, tail length 36 to 42 millimeters, the Hinterfußlänge 15 to 18 millimeters and the ear length of 13 to 16 millimeters. The greatest length of the skull is 25 to 28 millimeters, the body weight is from 22 to 48 grams and the number of chromosomes 22
The skin of the top is gray-yellow - brown on the back and there are no stains. The demarcation between the coat the top and the bottom is blurry and runs rather than wavy line along the edge. The hip is gray and the tail is short, light brown on the upper side and lower side white. The bullae are small and the enamel of the first upper molar has a distinct folding pattern.
From Kham dwarf hamster, the Ladakh dwarf hamster differs by less than five inches long tail and by the lack of blackening of the hip. With the Tibet dwarf hamster, with Cricetulus Tibetanus and with the horror dwarf hamster, it shares these features, but differs from them by the pronounced crease pattern of the first upper molar tooth.
Way of life
The habitat of Ladakh dwarf hamster are coniferous and birch forests, desert steppes, scrublands and wetlands and upland meadows. He apparently occupied a very broad ecological niche and is commonly found at altitudes 3100-5200 meters. It is mainly nocturnal but can be active during the day and feeds on the seeds of grasses, grain and insects. The reproduction will take place between May and August is the peak in June and July. The number of pups per litter ranges from five to ten, most commonly seven to eight pups.
Distribution and population
- Red: locality of the type specimen
- Black: Locations in China
The distribution area of Ladakh dwarf hamster are the southwest of Xinjiang and the north-west of Tibet in China, the western Nepal and Jammu and Kashmir in northern India. The World Conservation Union classifies him around the world and in China as not at risk.
Systematics and naming
The Ladakh dwarf hamster is usually regarded as a separate species (Thomas, 1917; Ellerman, 1941; Ellerman and Morrison -Scott, 1951; Ellerman, 1961; Corbet, 1978; Corbet and Hill, 1980; Honacki and coworkers, 1982; Nowak and Paradiso, 1983; Corbet and Hill, 1986; Corbet and Hill, 1991; Nowak, 1991; Musser and Carleton, 1993; Pawlinow and staff, 1995; Nowak, 1999; Pawlinow, 2003; Duff and Lawson, 2004; Musser and Carleton, 2005, Smith and Hoffman, 2008). In some classifications it is but as a subspecies of Kham- dwarf hamster ( Feng et al, 1986; Wang, 2003; Zhang et al, 1997) or out of Tibet dwarf hamster ( Argiropulo, 1933). According to Flint ( 1966), however, he is possibly a subspecies of the gray dwarf hamster.
The type specimen of Ladakh dwarf hamster was in Chushul in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir found at an altitude of 4115 meters and 1917 described alticola Oldfield Thomas as Cricetulus. The Artepithet alticola derives from Latin altum ("high" ) and Incola ( " residents " ) and is male. Honey (2005 ) as German common name " Indian or Ladak Hamster. "