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Two genera contain the most common pet hamster species: Mesocricetus (Syrian hamster) and Phodopus (dwarf hamsters). Hamsters are closely related to other small rodents including mice, rats and voles.
What did hamsters evolve from?
All the Syrian hamsters in the pet trade today are said to be descended from a female wild hamster and her litter captured in Aleppo, Syria, in 1930.
Are hamsters related to rabbits?
Animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, degus, chinchillas, (dwarf)hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, squirrels and ferrets. Rabbits do not belong to the Rodentia order, they are lagomorphs (Lagomorpha order).
Where did hamsters originate from?
Syria
The first hamsters were discovered in Syria, though they also live in Greece, Romania, Belgium and northern China. In the wild, they like to live in warm, dry areas, like steppes, sand dunes and the edges of deserts.
When did hamsters evolve?
Their evolutionary history is recorded by 15 extinct fossil genera and extends back 11.2 million to 16.4 million years to the Middle Miocene Epoch in Europe and North Africa; in Asia it extends 6 million to 11 million years.
Is a hamster the same as a rat?
Key Difference: A rat is a medium-sized to large rodents, with a pointed muzzle, long slender and hairless tail, and dexterous forepaws. A hamster is a rodent that belongs to the Cricetidae family of the Rodentia order. Rats and hamsters are not the same, but can be considered as cousins (maybe once or twice removed).
What family is the hamster family in?
Cricetidae
Hamsters/Family
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice.
How are hamsters related to other small animals?
Hamsters Are Related To Multiple Other Animals First, it is important to note that there are multiple types of hamsters. Two of the most common types are the Syrian hamster and the dwarf hamster. Both of these hamsters are closely related to numerous other small animals, including voles, rats, and mice.
How many species of hamsters are there in the world?
Hamsters are rodents (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 18 species classified in seven genera. They have become established as popular small house pets.
Which is the most common species of dwarf hamster?
Campbell’s dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli) is the most common—they are also sometimes called “Russian dwarfs”; however, many hamsters are from Russia, so this ambiguous name does not distinguish them from other species appropriately.
What kind of order does a hamster belong to?
The hamsters belong to order Rodentia and suborder Myomorpha. The family is Cricetidae and the subfamily is Cricetinae. The lower classification of the hamsters includes the subphylum which is Vertebrata. Meanwhile, the superfamily is Murodiea.