Mesocricetus
Encyclopedia
Mesocricetus is a genus
of Old World
hamster
s, including the Golden hamster
or Syrian hamster, the first hamster to be introduced as a domestic pet and still the most popular species for that purpose.
Recent research has shown that, unlike almost all other land mammals studied, two species of this genus (M. auratus and M. brandti) lack the capacity for colour vision (Williams and Jacobs, 2008).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
hamster
Hamster
Hamsters are rodents belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. The subfamily contains about 25 species, classified in six or seven genera....
s, including the Golden hamster
Golden Hamster
The golden hamster or Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, is a very well known member of the rodent subfamily Cricetinae, the hamsters. In the wild they are now considered vulnerable. Their numbers have been declining due to loss of habitat and deliberate destruction by humans. However, they are...
or Syrian hamster, the first hamster to be introduced as a domestic pet and still the most popular species for that purpose.
Recent research has shown that, unlike almost all other land mammals studied, two species of this genus (M. auratus and M. brandti) lack the capacity for colour vision (Williams and Jacobs, 2008).
Species
- Mesocricetus auratus: Golden hamsterGolden HamsterThe golden hamster or Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, is a very well known member of the rodent subfamily Cricetinae, the hamsters. In the wild they are now considered vulnerable. Their numbers have been declining due to loss of habitat and deliberate destruction by humans. However, they are...
- Mesocricetus brandti: Turkish hamsterTurkish HamsterThe Turkish hamster , also referred to as Brandt’s Hamster, The Azerbaijani Hamster,or Avurtlak, is a species of hamster native to Turkey, Armenia and other surrounding nations...
, or Brandt's hamster - Mesocricetus newtoni: Romanian HamsterRomanian HamsterThe Romanian hamster or Dobrudja hamster is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Bulgaria and Romania.-Description:...
- Mesocricetus raddei: Ciscaucasian HamsterCiscaucasian HamsterThe Ciscaucasian Hamster, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is also known as the Georgian hamster and is found only in Russia.-Distribution and habitat:...