What is the difference between a Djungarian hamster and a Campbell's hamster. Brief information about the hamster The smallest and largest hamster

The most interesting facts about hamsters will reveal to you many secrets about them. When nature created these fluffy and charming animals, it did not skimp on imagination.

The word "hamster" means "earth-destroying enemy." Most likely, this means that the animal bends the stems of various cereals to taste the seeds.

From the article you will learn interesting facts about hamsters.

Hamsters teeth

Surprisingly, hamsters are already born with teeth. The latter have some features that distinguish hamsters from other rodents:

• such animals have only 4 incisors and 12 molars;
• their teeth grow throughout their lives;
• hamsters wear them down on a stone;
• The teeth of these rodents do not have roots.

Hamster fur

A hamster is an animal with fluffy and soft fur. But it is better not to touch the fur of a shaggy African hamster. This animal is capable of destroying a predator that is stronger and larger than the rodent itself.

The hairs of the African hamster's fur are arranged in a very unusual way - on their surface there are small holes that vaguely resemble a carved lattice. Thanks to this, the hairs can absorb liquid and hold it inside. The hamster rubs its fur with the juice of poisonous plants, because of this the animal becomes dangerous to anyone who wants to bite it.

Hamster cheek pouches

This feature distinguishes hamsters from other rodents. The animal uses its cheeks to hide food and other things that interest it. The cheeks are a kind of bag for the rodent, with the help of which it carries things to its home. Greedy animals can even put a heavy nut on their cheek. The hamster will not spit out a shiny find, even if it finds something tasty.

A hamster can put a load in its cheeks, which will amount to a fifth of the weight of the rodent itself.

Cheek pouches are not only a secure pocket for food, but also excellent airbags while swimming. Hamsters, taking air into their cheeks, float perfectly on the surface of the water.

Hamster offspring

Animals can bear offspring up to 4 times a year. A female stays pregnant for 18 days and feeds her babies for up to 21 days. No more than 8 hamsters can be born at a time. By the way, a female Djungarian hamster is able to become pregnant again in the first days after giving birth. And the females of these animals can delay the time of birth.

Some unusual facts about hamsters

Below are some interesting facts about hamsters:

1. Despite the fact that hamsters are small in size, they are quite intelligent and often show ingenuity. If you give your pet a name, he will soon begin to respond to it. Unfortunately, wild hamsters are not as smart as domestic ones.
2. Pet hamsters remember very well their relatives with whom they once lived in the same cage.
3. Many people think that an animal definitely needs a mate, but this is far from the case. In reality, the situation is different - hamsters love solitude and can live without a pair. On the contrary, if you keep two hamsters in a cage, they will begin to fight for territory - this can lead to the death of the animals.
4. One year for a hamster is equal to 25 years of human life. As a result, the animal lives no more than 4 years. Of course, this fact is quite sad for those who love small pets.
5. Hamsters have very poor eyesight. Basically, these tiny animals navigate using their sense of smell and good hearing. They see the world around them in black and white.
6. Hamsters are small animals, but this fact does not prevent them from covering vast distances. Wild rodents run about 10 kilometers per day. Therefore, if you decide to get a hamster, be sure to put a running wheel in its cage.
7. Many people think that a hamster only eats grains. The tiny animal will never refuse a piece of vegetable or fruit. Moreover, animal protein is a real treat for a hamster. In the wild, hamsters regularly eat worms and beetles. Pamper your pets with pieces of chicken or fish.

These hamsters are wild relatives of domestic animals. The common steppe hamster is a thunderstorm for fields, vegetable gardens and animals. Many have seen how these crumbs attacked a hare or a dog. The rodent won and immediately began to feast on the victim’s meat.

Hamsters fight not only with dogs, but also with their relatives. There can be many reasons for a battle: protection of reserves, desire to possess a female, defense of one’s territory, and so on.

There have been cases when the steppe hamster attacked a person. A wild hamster attacks simply to defend its territory.

Wild hamsters of this species are very warlike. They cannot stand strangers on their territory. These rodents are loners. If you decide to put a weaker animal in a cage with a Syrian hamster, you can be sure that the first one will bite the second one to death.

The Syrian hamster will not even carry its offspring near it - if the babies are not removed in time, they will be destroyed by the parent.

Zoologists have discovered an interesting fact about hamsters: these animals are omnivores. If you don't feed your pet meat and fish, he will become aggressive and bite. The female can even eat her newborn babies.

Djungarian hamsters

Here are some interesting facts about Djungarian hamsters. They have a very unusual feature - from time to time hamsters fall into a stupor. This state lasts about 2 hours. Usually animals fall into a stupor if the ambient temperature is lower than normal. Stupor may also be caused by recent stress (for example, moving from a pet store to your home).

Unusual facts about Roborovsky's hamsters

This type of hamster is distinguished by its tiny size. They also differ from their relatives in their sociability and friendliness. These animals need a mate. Hamsters will not show aggression, even if you put several males and one female in the cage.

Which breed of hamster lives the longest?

As mentioned above, hamsters live no more than 4 years. If the animal has lived these years, then it is considered a long-liver. Syrian hamsters live 3.5 years, Roborovsky hamsters - no more than 3 years. Djungarians can live up to 4 years.

Hamster records: largest and smallest

There are more than 19 breeds of hamsters. Among them are dwarf English hamsters - PeeWee. Their length is about 2.5 centimeters including the tail.

A case was recorded when a hamster reached a length of 35 centimeters. This is an animal of the Radde breed. Hamsters of this breed are considered the largest, their weight can reach about one kilogram.

How much does a hamster cost?

The price of a rodent depends on many factors:

• from the one who sells the animal (pet store, private person or nursery);
• availability of pedigree and documents;
• how rare a breed the animal is.

For example, a hamster from a private owner is much cheaper than in a nursery. But a private person will not give you a guarantee that the rodent is healthy and has good heredity.

When buying an animal at a pet store, you can be sure that the hamster has been checked by a veterinarian, but there is also no guarantee of a good pedigree.

Therefore, if you want to get a purebred hamster, then contact the nursery. For the rarest rodent you will pay no more than 1 thousand rubles.

Results

Hamsters are funny animals. If you decide to get this rodent, be sure to study the characteristics of the animal, as well as the distinctive features of each breed.

Don't forget to feed your pet meat - this will help you avoid aggression from the animal. Be sure to put a stone in the cage so that the pet can grind its teeth, and install a wheel - the hamster must move actively.

Mice are colorblind and do not tolerate daylight very well, because... are nocturnal creatures

Mice have a keen sense of smell and hearing. Their hearing range is similar to humans, but they can also hear in the ultrasonic range and can communicate with each other using ultrasound

The mouse has two thymus glands (the thymus is an organ of lymphopoiesis in which maturation, differentiation and immunological “training” of T-cells of the immune system occur). One of them is the size of a pea and is located in the chest, and the second is the size of a pinhead and is located in the neck area near the trachea.

The chemical composition of urine in male mice is very different from that of female mice.

Newborn mice born at any time of the year except spring are blind at birth and have no fur.

Mice can sleep 12 hours a day.

Hamster Facts:

Hamsters are omnivores: they can eat seeds, grains, grasses and even insects

Hamsters give birth to numerous offspring

Only 5 species of hamsters can be kept as pets

The Syrian hamster is the most common species that can be found as a pet.

Syrian hamsters are tolerant of alcohol: long-term storage of fruits in their cheeks can lead to their fermentation

Hamsters are colorblind and also myopic

Hamsters can burrow into the ground for shelter, where they dig holes about a meter deep and make several rooms within their underground homes.

Hamsters' cheeks can stretch until their head is two or three times the size of the animal. The female can even carry her young in her mouth

A hamster has a short life, maximum 4 years

Hamsters have short tails: 2 -4 cm

Syrian hamsters were first mentioned by Alexander Russell in 1797 as a new species of rodent in his publication: Natural History of Aleppo. Of course, the interesting facts about rodents don’t end there.

pet7.ru

Despite the fact that hamsters are far from humans in progressive evolutionary terms, their habits and habits are almost 100% similar to those of humans.

These rodents, like people, can suffer from depression, be happy, be offended, and even quarrel among themselves.

To date, 19 species of the hamster subfamily are known, but some of them are either not fully studied or are considered extinct.

God did not reward these lovely creatures with good eyesight. Plus, hamsters see everything in black and white. However, they have perfectly developed hearing, smell and memory. Presumably, hamsters remember well their relatives in the 4th-5th generation, with whom they lived in the same cage.

An interesting fact is that hamsters are good swimmers. They can draw a large amount of air into the cheeks, thereby creating an air cushion to stay on the water.

Hamsters are one of the few animal species that are born with teeth. They grow throughout life, and if the hamster does not grind them down, the teeth will begin to cause discomfort to the animal.

Many people believe that hamsters are vegetarians. But this opinion is deeply erroneous. In nature, these rodents make up for the lack of proteins and carbohydrates by eating bugs and worms. And at home, it doesn’t hurt to give a small pet a piece of chicken meat, offal, or peeled shrimp.

An ascetic lifestyle will not upset the hamster at all, but then a caring owner should equip the cage with special miniature exercise equipment so that the animal can expend energy.

The sad fact is that hamsters live no more than 5 years, but during this period they can give birth to 6 to 20 litters of offspring.

Hamsters, like true friends, sense a person's mood well, so if you are sad, your little friend will try his best to cheer you up.

zenun.ru

Hamsters are cute pets that many people enjoy keeping at home, but few people know that in the wild these funny animals lead a rather aggressive lifestyle. They fearlessly attack any enemy who encroaches on their mink, and fights among hamsters are sometimes characterized by cruelty. Although, of course, it’s hard to believe it when you look at how your furry pet runs diligently in a wheel.

• There are many species of hamsters in the world. The largest of them reach a weight of 400-450 grams, and the weight of the smallest representatives of the hamster genus does not exceed 10 grams.


• They all have developed cheek pouches where they hide their prey.
• Some species of hamsters live in the mountains, at an altitude of up to 4 kilometers.
• Hamsters' tendency to stockpile food stems from the fact that they do not hibernate during the winter and need something to eat.
• Female hamsters raise their young alone; males do not take any part in the fate of their offspring.
• These rodents readily feed on grain and plants, but do not disdain animal food, even hunting frogs and lizards.
• The rat-like hamster really lives up to its name - in appearance it looks more like a rat, although it is not one.
• In the wild, hamsters mainly prefer to live in steppes and deserts.
• Most hamsters are excellent swimmers, and they puff out their cheeks and use them as floats to help them float more confidently.
• In Vietnam, the law prohibits keeping hamsters at home, as these animals can carry some dangerous diseases.
• Females of some species of hamsters can slow down their pregnancy if they are still nursing the previous litter.
• Hamsters cannot distinguish colors, and in general their vision leaves much to be desired, but their sense of smell and hearing is excellent.
• In their cheek pouches, hamsters are capable of moving food in huge quantities - a hamster can stuff about one-fifth of its own body weight into its cheeks at a time.


• Hamsters living in North America love to carry various shiny objects into their burrows.
• These animals' teeth grow throughout their lives, so they need to constantly gnaw on something to wear them down.
• Hamsters cannot recognize heights, and therefore can easily fall and break themselves. This is due to the fact that in their natural habitat they simply did not develop a sense of height.
• Their pregnancy lasts only 2-3 weeks depending on the species.
• In most cases, hamsters easily remember the name given to them. Although not all of them become attached to their owners.
• Baby hamsters are born with teeth.
• The famous Syrian hamster is listed in the Red Book, as it is currently on the verge of complete extinction.

megafacts.rf

There is a lot that can surprise you about these animals. Most of the myths about them do not correspond to reality.

Teeth

This organ distinguishes rodents from all other animals. They are even born with teeth. But not everyone knows interesting facts about hamsters regarding these organs:

• Hamsters' teeth do not have roots;
• Each individual has only four of them;
• Hamsters' teeth grow throughout their lives;
• so that they fit in the mouth, they are regularly ground down on a stone.

Wool

An amazing discovery was made by Oxford University zoologist Kingdon while studying the phenomenon of the shaggy African hamster, which was also called poisonous. This rodent kills predators that are larger and stronger than it.

It turned out that the hairs in a hamster's fur coat are arranged in an unusual way. On the outside they have microscopic holes that resemble a carved lattice. Because of this, the hairs absorb liquid and keep it inside. By rubbing the fur with the juice of a poisonous plant, the hamster becomes dangerous to those who try to bite it.

Cheek pouches

This is the most important distinguishing feature of all hamsters. Animals hide food and everything that interests them in them. Having reached its shelter, the hamster dumps what it brought and hides it.

At one time, a rodent can carry a load in its cheek pouches that makes up a fifth of its weight.

In addition to food, animals are attracted to various shiny objects. Moreover, a greedy hamster, having hidden a heavy metal nut behind its cheek, can die of hunger without leaving its place due to the too heavy weight of the burden, but it will not dare to spit out the find.

With the help of their cheek pouches, rodents swim well. They take in air and therefore easily float on the surface of the water. True, they will not be able to dive.

Offspring

Hamsters can give birth 2 to 4 times a year. A female dwarf can become fertilized right on the day of birth. Pregnancy lasts 16-18 days, and feeding of the cubs lasts 21.

To prevent one offspring from interfering with another, the female can delay the onset of childbirth.
Usually there are no more than 8 hamsters in a litter. However, in the USA in 1974, on February 28, the Miller family was incredibly surprised when their pet gave birth to 26 cubs at once.

Interesting facts about the common hamster: cannibal warrior

In addition to the domesticated species of these cute fluffies, their wild relatives still exist in nature. The steppe hamster (common) is a real thunderstorm not only for fields and gardens, but also for animals. They say about them that when attacking a dog or a hare, these rodents win and... feast on the fresh meat of their victim.

They do not hesitate to taste the flesh of a fellow rival defeated in battle. These warlike creatures fight for possession of a female, for territory, protecting their reserves.

They say about steppe hamsters that they even attack humans. However, no deaths were recorded. Basically, zealous owners simply scare away people, protecting the territory.

Interesting facts about Syrian hamsters: about food, friendship and family ties

These domestic rodents are not as warlike as wild steppe rodents. But, preferring a solitary lifestyle, they will not tolerate a stranger on their territory. The Syrian hamster will mercilessly bite to death a weaker one that an inexperienced owner decides to place next to him.

The concept of kinship does not exist for him. If it is not resettled in time, even its own offspring will suffer.

Zoologists made an interesting discovery about hamsters and food: these rodents are omnivores. In addition to grains, seeds and fruits, they need animal protein. In nature, animals get it by hunting for insects, small living creatures, and eating carrion. In captivity, they must be given boiled lean poultry and fish, otherwise the pet becomes aggressive and bites. For this reason, the female can even eat her own offspring.

Djungarian hamsters, unlike other types of hamsters, have an interesting ability of the body - to fall into a stupor (not to be confused with hibernation!). This condition lasts several hours and is most often associated with low ambient temperatures. There are also cases where hamsters fell into a stupor due to severe stress.

Interesting facts about Roborovski's hamsters

Roborovsky's hamsters are the smallest among their relatives. What distinguishes them from other species is their friendliness and love of communication. They get along well with each other in the same cage. The main condition is the presence of an equal number of females and males. Although one male and several females will coexist perfectly in a cage. In this case, aggression is not observed. Indeed, in nature, male hamsters usually take care of not one female, but several.

Which breed of hamster lives the longest?

Among rodents, an individual that has celebrated its fourth birthday can be considered a long-liver. The usual lifespan of dwarf and Campbell's hamsters is 2 to 3 years. Roborovsky's hamsters live a little longer - up to 3.5 years. But there are facts of longevity. There have been cases where representatives of dwarf breeds broke the record of 5 years. Syrian hamsters are officially declared to have a lifespan of 3.5 years.

There is a legend on the Internet that the oldest hamster in the world lived to be 19 years old. However, no confirmation of this fact was found.

Records: the fattest hamster in the world, the largest and the smallest

About 19 breeds of rodents with cheek pouches are known. Among them there are tiny dwarfs - PeeWee from Great Britain, which is only 2.5 cm long including its tail. But this is not a natural phenomenon, but a physical deviation, due to which the animal stopped growing in childhood.

Among Radde's wild hamsters, a male is registered, 35 centimeters long and weighing just over a kilogram. This fattest hamster has prepared supplies for winter not only in the pantry, but also accumulated on his sides.

Although the average Radde hamster stands out among its relatives: its weight ranges from 500 to 700 g. People call it nothing more than a “dog”.

The most expensive hamster

The price of an animal depends on whether it is sold by a private individual, a pet store or a nursery, whether the animal has documents with a pedigree and how rare the rodent breed is.

You can buy a hamster from a private owner 5 times cheaper than in a nursery. But there is no guarantee that the animal is healthy, that it has good genes. In a pet store, animals are sold after being checked by a veterinarian. However, sellers there will not be able to guarantee a good pedigree. Therefore, if it is important for the owner to get a real purebred pet, it is better to pay more, but get what he wants without deception and with supporting documents.

The rarest is Roborovsky's hamster. They were brought to Russia back in 1970. But only recently has it been possible to develop a species capable of breeding in captivity.

You should buy a married couple right away. It will cost about 2000 rubles.

homkin.ru

The smallest and largest hamster

The largest are individuals of the European breed. They can reach up to 35 cm in length.

The smallest hamsters are considered to be the dwarf breed, growing up to 10 cm in length and no more than 5.5 cm in width.
Dwarf hamsters have another interesting feature - they live the longest (up to 4 years).

Found high in the mountains

Hamsters can be found at altitudes of up to 3,600 km above sea level. Campbell's hamster in the mountainous part of its habitat rises to an altitude of 2500–3500 km. However, these rodents mainly live in forests, steppes and deserts, and are often found in fields and gardens.

They swim well

Hamsters can swim by taking air into their cheek pouches. They usually undertake such a feat if necessary. Wild hamsters are more courageous and resilient, but for domestic sissies, swimming can be stressful.
However, among the dzungarians there are sometimes individuals who do not mind wallowing in the water.

Make large reserves of food

Domestic hamsters, even if they get enough food, tend to stock up. They hide part of the food in their cheek pouches and carry it to a storage area. When his supplies are removed during cage cleaning, he becomes stressed.
In the wild, hamsters are rodents that, in the course of their life activity, cause enormous damage to agriculture by storing grain for the winter. Farmers sometimes go to great lengths to get rid of these pests. However, this wild rodent is fearless and cunning. Rapid reproduction, high vitality and unpretentiousness, the ability to quickly build burrows and underground passages to them make it very difficult to combat such pests. These underground burrows can store quite extensive supplies of hamsters from local agricultural fields.

There are predators among hamsters

It is a mistaken belief that hamsters eat only plant foods. Under natural conditions, these rodents also feed on insects, and under domesticated conditions, pieces of boiled chicken or low-fat fish, eggs and cottage cheese are quite suitable for their food. Protein nutrition is especially important for pregnant and lactating females.

Can store food in cheeks

Hamsters can keep food supplies behind their cheeks in so-called pouches for quite a long period of time in order to eat it after some time.
At the same time, they are capable of storing reserves behind their cheeks in a volume that reaches approximately 20% of the weight of their own carcass.

Residents of Vietnam are prohibited from keeping their houses

Vietnamese legislation has a clause according to which it is prohibited to privately keep and breed hamsters as pets, since they are carriers of many infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, a very important disease for developing countries. Violation of this law will result in a substantial fine.

The bite of wild hamsters is mainly dangerous, but the bite of a pet should also be washed and disinfected.

Smart

Hamsters are very smart:

• they can be trained to do some tricks;
• respond to your own nickname;
• they remember their relatives and neighbors who lived in the cage.

The best time to accustom a dog to a nickname and learn tricks is between 2 weeks and 2.5 months. Hamsters can be taught to stand on their hind legs, climb onto a shoulder and sit there like a parrot, roll over, go through an obstacle course, or lift a fake barbell. Those who love to jump can easily be taught to jump through a hoop. You can combine learned tricks and create a whole circus performance. You cannot train a pregnant animal during the mating period, shout at it and show aggression during training, demand more than the animal can fulfill.

Colorblind

Hamsters have poor eyesight and rely more on their senses of smell and hearing. They can see no further than 16 cm from themselves. But they have glands that secrete a specific smell, with which they mark their path on various objects. These animals are color blind, as they do not distinguish colors at all and perceive everything with their vision in black and white.

Are born with teeth

These rodents are born with teeth. Moreover, in hamsters, tooth growth does not stop throughout their entire life. They grow all the time and need constant grinding.

Hamsters are interesting and funny pets, they can swim, they can even be trained and given a nickname. However, do not demand too much from your pets, take care of them and give them enough attention.

pets2.me

Some more exciting facts about hamsters

• Syrian hamsters live on their own; they are solitary creatures and need their own space. If they are placed with other hamsters, they will become very aggressive and may even kill them.
• Hamsters' natural habitat is declining worldwide. As a result, the hamster population is now under threat, with some species on the verge of extinction.
• Hamsters do not have very good eyesight, they are very short-sighted and rely more on their sense of smell. Hamsters have scent glands, with which they leave marks on stones and other objects, thereby marking their path.
• Hamsters are color blind, i.e. they are colorblind
• When they are scared they may bite, but hamsters are generally kind and gentle creatures and love to play with their owners.
• Hamsters are quite easy to train to do various tricks and respond to their name.
• Hamsters typically live between two and three years, however, one year of human life is equivalent to approximately 25 years of a hamster's life!
• A male hamster is sometimes called a hog, and a female is sometimes called a sow.

As mentioned earlier, the most popular breed of hamster today is the golden hamster, which is native to the desert regions of Syria in the Middle East. Here are some fun and exciting facts about him:

• Female golden hamsters are larger than males
• Males live longer than females
• Individuals of this breed must live independently and will not share their space with other hamsters
• Golden hamsters live on average from two to three years, but can live much longer, up to 5-6 years, if they have the right care and nutrition.
• The ideal food for them would be special food for hamsters, yoghurts and fresh vegetables, as well as access to fresh and clean water
• Golden hamsters need daily vitamin supplements
• Wild golden hamsters are very rare in nature, mainly only in some areas of Syria. These hamsters are considered to be endangered. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists this breed as "Vulnerable"
• Golden hamsters have 4 toes on their front feet and 5 toes on their back feet.
• The breed has at least 40 different color shades
• The largest litter that a female golden hamster gave birth to consisted of more than 20 babies!
• The female's gestation period is 16 to 18 days, making it one of the shortest of all placental mammals in the world
• Almost all domestic golden hamsters are descended from a single female, who gave birth to 12 babies in 1930
• Hamsters are quite intelligent, they can remember their relatives

Caring for pet hamsters generally means providing them with the right environment. Since these smart little creatures love to interact with their owners, it is important that you play with them as much as possible. Therefore, placing a hamster cage in a room where people are always present is a great way to prevent them from getting sad. Also, if you decide to get a hamster, it is important to remember that they are great escape artists and can travel long distances - a hamster can travel up to 10 kilometers on its wheel in one night!

petstime.ru

Hamsters are cute, fluffy and funny rodents. They are quite popular pets. Interesting facts about hamsters will be presented in this article.

1. In total, about 25 species of hamsters are known, from the largest (European), reaching 34 centimeters in length, to the smallest (dwarf), not exceeding 6 centimeters.

2. Hamsters are extremely active animals. In the wild, they travel long distances in search of food. Therefore, your pet hamster should have a running wheel.

3.A famous feature of hamsters is their cheek pouches. By the way, they can hold as much food as the hamster weighs.

4. Unfortunately, the hamster's lifespan is very short. One year of animal life is equal to about 25 human years. It is easy to calculate that on average hamsters live 2-3 years.

5. Hamsters have poor vision and lack color perception. They are helped by their keen hearing and sense of smell.

6. Hamsters are nocturnal mammals. They sleep during the day and are active at night.

7. Hamsters are quite smart animals; they can be trained to respond to their name, as well as perform various tricks.

8. Hamsters' teeth constantly grow throughout their lives, so they can chew on the cage or objects that are in it.

9. Hamsters feed mainly on cereal plants, but they also use a variety of food sources, including insects and lizards.

10. Hamsters remember their relatives with whom they lived in the same cage.

fakty-pro.ru

Appearance

A hamster is a very small rodent, from 9 to 30 cm. It has a dense build, short legs and tail, and small ears. Sometimes the hair on the tail is folded into a tassel, and the tail can be longer than 2 cm. In general, the appearance of a hamster is similar to a mouse. These animals live in burrows and underground. The body of this animal is stocky or elongated, with a cervical interception. The hind legs are longer, like the limbs of jerboas, and have powerful claws on five toes, of which the lateral ones are shorter than the middle ones.

Semi-aquatic forms of hamsters may have webbing between the toes of the hind limbs. Thus, in underground hamsters the body has the shape of a roller, the neck is practically not prominent. The color varies from light to dark brown, the back is darker than the belly. There is a stripe along the spine of some species, and spots on the front of the body.

A large number of species are characterized by soft and smooth wool. The hamster's cheekbones are low and round, rarely diverging backwards. Sometimes it happens that the facial section is shortened. The orbits of the eyes are small, the supraorbital processes of the frontal bones are absent. The upper jaw bone forms the cheekbones, which cover the outside of the hole under the eyes. The masticatory muscle canal passes through the top. A distinctive feature of hamsters is their large cheek pouches, necessary for carrying food supplies.

The auditory openings vary in width and are often enlarged. The lower jaw usually has an angular process. The hamster has only 16 teeth, the front teeth are larger than the back teeth, the cheek teeth have crowns located low or high. Cheek teeth with crowns of different heights, lumpy, irregularities in two rows are a secondary complication of the teeth, namely their shape. There are even teeth that take the shape of a triangular prism. These are represented by fused dentinal columns.

In the skeleton of the lower section, the fusion of two tibia bones of different sizes is observed. The burrowing lifestyle made the limbs, ears, and tail of hamsters shorter, and the incisors and claws became suitable for digging. Underground or semi-underground species have reduction of the eyes and isolation of the incisors from the mouth, but most hamsters retain large eyes, long tails, and are adapted to running, so their limbs are longer. If hamsters live near a pond, they develop the ability to swim. Adaptation to climbing is expressed in some members of the family.

Solitary animals

Hamsters are solitary animals, except for Roborovsky hamsters. Therefore, in cages, even among individuals of different sexes, there can be fights, and a weak hamster can die. Also, keeping females should be done more carefully: in Djungarian, Syrian and Campbell hamsters, frequent births can be harmful to health. Late mating of a female - after one year of age - will also be harmful. This leads to a lack of milk and maternal instinct.

Reproduction

Reproduction occurs throughout the year in the south; in the north it is seasonal. The duration of a hamster's pregnancy is from 16 to 35 days. From 2 to 18 cubs are born. Maturity comes early, at 40–50 days, but life expectancy is very short - 1–2 years, in captivity up to three years. This does not prevent their large numbers.

Habitat of hamsters

Hamsters inhabit the earth over a vast territory. The exception is Antarctica and the island states - Iceland, the Arctic islands and the Australian-Malayan region, Iceland. Rodents can infest gardens and man-made landscapes.

www.voprosy-kak-i-pochemu.ru

Description: Do you know how big hamsters get in the wild? How long do hamsters live and what do they eat? What time of day are they most active? You will be surprised to learn the answers to these questions. Read the most interesting facts in this article.

These cute pets seem to be indifferent to the attention of their owners. They always have a lot to do: they need to spin the wheel on time, have a hearty lunch and don’t forget to get plenty of sleep! What if hamsters are not as simple as they seem? We have selected 10 interesting facts that you probably didn’t know before.

Fact No. 1. Hamster - “twilight” rodent

Wild relatives of pets prefer to leave their burrows before the sun falls below the horizon and return at nightfall. Civilized hamsters do not have to worry about food, but this has already become the norm - they are most active at dusk.

Fact No. 2. The largest species reach 33 cm in length

Well what can I say? The species of rodent called the “European hamster” will need a cage of special sizes, and it will be difficult to limit itself to an ordinary pack of dry food! I wonder if you can walk him on a leash?

Fact No. 3. The smallest hamsters rarely exceed 6 cm in length

Representatives of the species with the unusual name “Roborovsky hamsters” look cute and funny. Most of them have a very beautiful color - pale pink back, white legs and belly. Despite their miniature size, such hamsters have an excellent appetite and can compete in the speed of food destruction with their larger counterparts.

Fact No. 4. The hamster is able to hide food “for a rainy day” behind its huge cheeks

Your pet may not be hungry or consider this area unsuitable for eating (in nature, hamsters sense the approach of predators from afar), but he will never refuse food! Rather, he will prefer to hide as much food as possible behind his cheeks, and then enjoy lunch in a place that is safer and more comfortable, in his opinion.

Fact No. 5. There are at least 4 types of domestic hamsters

Roborovsky, Syrian, Djungarian and Campbell hamsters. The variety of colors obtained as a result of various mutations allows you to choose the ideal pet for every connoisseur of these wonderful rodents.

From 3 (Roborovsky) to 18 cm (Syrian), preferring to live in a flock or alone, of all possible colors and even curly. No matter what a hamster looks like, the positive emotions from keeping it are the same!

Fact No. 6. Hamsters are omnivores

Owners usually consider hamsters to be herbivores and fill the feeder to the top with dry mixtures of seeds, fruits and vegetables. Well, I do not! These babies are excellent predators, and in nature they happily feed on small insects.

Fact No. 7. Long-lived hamsters may be celebrating their fourth birthday

Most species live from 2 to 2.5 years, but the above-mentioned Roborovsky hamsters often live up to 3. Of course, everything depends on proper maintenance and nutrition, as well as on innate genes. Domestic hamsters rarely live to be 4 years old, but such cases still occur. It gives hope, doesn't it??

Fact No. 8. Hamsters are born blind

Newborn hamsters do not see anything, but they easily navigate in space thanks to excellent hearing, instincts and assistance from their parents. Once they reach two weeks of age, they can finally open their eyes and become familiar with the world around them.

Fact No. 9. Some hamsters' teeth never stop growing.

Have you ever wondered why your pet loves to chew dry food and objects that come to hand so much? He doesn’t want to annoy you at all, it’s just that his front teeth, his incisors, never stop growing! If you transfer a rodent to liquid food, one day the teeth will reach such a length that it simply will not be able to open its mouth and eat normally. Horrible!

Fact No. 10. A married pair of hamsters can give birth to up to 24 babies at a time!

Hamsters are born in spring and summer, and in most cases their number does not exceed 7-8 individuals. But there are cases when one couple had 24 cubs at once! Can you imagine this crowd?

Video about the ideal playground for a hamster:

OK it's all over Now. There is only one thing left to add - each hamster is unique and has its own character and habits. The owners probably noticed special oddities about their pet, which only added to its funniness. What can you tell us about your pet?

Djungarian hamster (lat. Phodopus sungorus) belongs to the rodent family. Its natural habitat is the South Siberian steppes. In nature, the Djungarian hamster lives in a hole and does not hibernate in winter. In appearance, the animal looks like a large mouse with ears. Its fur is fluffy; in summer it is gray, with a noticeable dark stripe running along the ridge; in winter the rodent becomes lighter and the coat becomes silver-gray. If you look closely at his habits, they are very similar to human ones. In particular, the manner of grasping food - hamsters hold treats with both paws and look very funny. They have impressive cheek pouches into which they collect all their supplies.

Such animals grow up to 10 centimeters in length and weigh no more than 50 grams. These are very sociable and cute pets, with black, attentive beady eyes and alert ears. The soles of hamsters' feet are covered with fur. You need to handle your pets carefully - they are very fragile. Unlike the similar Campbell's hamster, Djungarian hamsters are more peaceful: their counterparts tend to bite or get scared by sharp sounds, while Djungarian hamsters are peaceful and somewhat phlegmatic.

photo: Djungarian hamster weigh no more than 50 grams

Djungarian hamsters are very clean and emit virtually no odor, so they make wonderful pets. They are suitable even for families with small children - they can sleep in their arms for a long time and love to be petted. Hamsters give birth to 2-3 litters per year, each of which contains 3-9 babies. At the age of one month they reach sexual maturity, so they will need to be placed in a separate cage. The pregnancy of a female hamster lasts 16-18 days.

photo: Djungarian hamster lives about 2 years

As for the choice of housing for a hamster, it can be a cage with small cross bars or a glass aquarium. Here you can place a house, a feeder, a drinking bowl, and a wheel for entertainment. If you wish, you can create several tunnels using tubes and hoses - animals love to climb through them. Letting them run around the room, where they can easily get lost, is quite risky; it is better to choose a larger cage.

photo: Djungarian hamster is a nocturnal animal

• In captivity, the Djungarian hamster can live 2-3 years;
• Djungarians are nocturnal creatures, their peak activity occurs in the evening and at night, but during the day they sleep;
• Hamsters are very active creatures; they run long distances per day;
• You will be able to make friends with your pet - at first he will hide in the far corners of the cage, but over time he will respond to your voice, take food from your hands and even doze peacefully on your lap.

If you are interested in buying a Djungarian hamster, then you can see and meet them live at the Moscow petting zoo "UtiPuti", located near the Molodezhnaya metro station. Zoo staff will be happy to answer all your questions and give the necessary recommendations on keeping and caring for hamsters. Zoo website -

Hamsters have only recently been domesticated, but these small rodents have quickly become popular pets. They are friendly, funny and can even be carried in your pocket. Let's learn more about some interesting features of hamsters.

The smallest and largest hamster

The largest are individuals of the European breed. They can reach up to 35 cm in length.

The smallest hamsters are considered to be the dwarf breed, growing up to 10 cm in length and no more than 5.5 cm in width.
Dwarf hamsters have another interesting feature - they live the longest (up to 4 years).

Did you know? However, the smallest hamster included in the Guinness Book is not a dwarf breed. This is an ordinary hamster from the UK named PeeWee, who stopped growing at three weeks of age and remained only 2.5 cm in size.

Found high in the mountains

Hamsters can be found at altitudes of up to 3,600 km above sea level. Campbell's hamster in the mountainous part of its habitat rises to an altitude of 2500–3500 km. However, these rodents mainly live in forests, steppes and deserts, and are often found in fields and gardens.

They swim well

Hamsters can swim by taking air into their cheek pouches. They usually undertake such a feat if necessary. Wild hamsters are more courageous and resilient, but for domestic sissies, swimming can be stressful.
However, among the dzungarians there are sometimes individuals who do not mind wallowing in the water.

Important! For the most part, hamsters are inhabitants of steppes and deserts. Do not force your pets to swim when bathing. For these rodents, such swimming is not always enjoyable; moreover, the animal may choke or water may get into the ears.

Make large reserves of food

Domestic hamsters, even if they get enough food, tend to stock up. They hide part of the food in their cheek pouches and carry it to a storage area. When his supplies are removed during cage cleaning, he becomes stressed.
In the wild, hamsters are rodents that, in the course of their life activity, cause enormous damage to agriculture by storing grain for the winter. Farmers sometimes go to great lengths to get rid of these pests. However, this wild rodent is fearless and cunning. Rapid reproduction, high vitality and unpretentiousness, the ability to quickly build burrows and underground passages to them make it very difficult to combat such pests. These underground burrows can store quite extensive supplies of hamsters from local agricultural fields.

Did you know? The dug burrows can reach 1.5 m in depth and 8 m in width. Hamsters are quite capable of storing up to 90 kg of reserves in their underground storage facilities, and this is not the limit.

There are predators among hamsters

It is a mistaken belief that hamsters eat only plant foods. Under natural conditions, these rodents also feed on insects, and under domesticated conditions, pieces of boiled chicken or low-fat fish, eggs and cottage cheese are quite suitable for their food. Protein nutrition is especially important for pregnant and lactating females.

Can store food in cheeks

Hamsters can keep food supplies behind their cheeks in so-called pouches for quite a long period of time in order to eat it after some time.
At the same time, they are capable of storing reserves behind their cheeks in a volume that reaches approximately 20% of the weight of their own carcass.

Residents of Vietnam are prohibited from keeping their houses

Vietnamese legislation has a clause according to which it is prohibited to privately keep and breed hamsters as pets, since they are carriers of many infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, a very important disease for developing countries. Violation of this law will result in a substantial fine.

Important!Hamsters are carriers of about 30 infectious diseases, some of which are fatal to humans. If swelling appears in the bite area and temperature, you should immediately seek medical help. If a hamster has had contact with street dogs, becomes lethargic after aggression, and then dies, then the animal should be examined for rabies.

The bite of wild hamsters is mainly dangerous, but the bite of a pet should also be washed and disinfected.

Smart

Hamsters are very smart:

• they can be trained to do some tricks;
• respond to your own nickname;
• they remember their relatives and neighbors who lived in the cage.

The best time to accustom a dog to a nickname and learn tricks is between 2 weeks and 2.5 months. Hamsters can be taught to stand on their hind legs, climb onto a shoulder and sit there like a parrot, roll over, go through an obstacle course, or lift a fake barbell. Those who love to jump can easily be taught to jump through a hoop. You can combine learned tricks and create a whole circus performance. You cannot train a pregnant animal during the mating period, shout at it and show aggression during training, demand more than the animal can fulfill.

Colorblind

Hamsters have poor eyesight and rely more on their senses of smell and hearing. They can see no further than 16 cm from themselves. But they have glands that secrete a specific smell, with which they mark their path on various objects. These animals are color blind, as they do not distinguish colors at all and perceive everything with their vision in black and white.

Are born with teeth

These rodents are born with teeth. Moreover, in hamsters, tooth growth does not stop throughout their entire life. They grow all the time and need constant grinding.

Hamsters are interesting and funny pets, they can swim, they can even be trained and given a nickname. However, do not demand too much from your pets, take care of them and give them enough attention.