Chinese hamster
Encyclopedia
The Chinese hamster is a species of hamster
originating from the desert
s of northern China
and Mongolia
.
A Chinese hamster's body proportions, compared with those of other hamsters, appear "long and thin" and they have (for a hamster) a relatively long tail. Males have a relatively large scrotum, therefore females were generally kept as pets and males used solely for breeding and research purposes, until scientists started using other rodents, albino mice and rats. Chinese hamsters are not related to the social "dwarf" hamsters
. The term "dwarf" is often used to refer solely to animals in the genus Phodopus, (the two types of Russian dwarf hamsters and Roborovski dwarf hamsters
).
The wild colour is brown with a black stripe down the spine, black and grey ticks and a whitish belly. This coloration, combined with their lithe build and longer tail, makes them look "mousy" to some eyes and, in fact, they are members of the group called ratlike hamster
s. Besides the wild colour, a well-known variation is the white-spotted Chinese hamster, which often is grayish white all over, with only a dark stripe on its back.
They can have quite vicious temperaments but are easily handled; one of their endearing traits is that of clinging to a finger with all four paws, rather like a harvest mouse on a corn stalk. Chinese hamsters can be quite nervous as youngsters but, once they are tame, can display an endearing calmness and gentleness of character.
In the past, Chinese hamsters were commonly used laboratory animals, until they were replaced by the common mouse and rat, which are easier to keep and breed; however, quite a few biotech drugs are still being produced by putting the gene for the protein into Chinese hamster ovary cell
s (CHO cells), which then produce the protein.
Of note, some US states such as California
regard the Chinese hamster as a pest, and as a result require a special permit to own, breed or sell.
. Some people consider the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) and the Chinese striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis) different species, whereas others classify them as identical,
the Chinese striped hamster as a subspecies of the Chinese hamster (in which case the Latin name of the Chinese striped hamster would be Cricetulus griseus barabensis) or the other way round (in which case the Latin name of the Chinese hamster would be Cricetulus barabensis griseus).
Hamster
Hamsters are rodents belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. The subfamily contains about 25 species, classified in six or seven genera....
originating from the desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
s of northern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
.
Description
These animals grow to between 82 and 127 mm in body length (tail length 20-33 mm) and weigh 1.7 grams at birth, then as they get older can weigh 30-45 grams. They live two to three years on average.A Chinese hamster's body proportions, compared with those of other hamsters, appear "long and thin" and they have (for a hamster) a relatively long tail. Males have a relatively large scrotum, therefore females were generally kept as pets and males used solely for breeding and research purposes, until scientists started using other rodents, albino mice and rats. Chinese hamsters are not related to the social "dwarf" hamsters
Dwarf hamster
Phodopus is a genus of rodent in the vole and hamster family Cricetidae. Its three species, together with most of those of genus Cricetulus, are known as "dwarf hamsters", because of their small size relative to other hamsters...
. The term "dwarf" is often used to refer solely to animals in the genus Phodopus, (the two types of Russian dwarf hamsters and Roborovski dwarf hamsters
Roborovski hamster
Roborovskis or desert hamsters are the smallest of all hamsters, averaging under an inch at birth, and three inches during adulthood...
).
The wild colour is brown with a black stripe down the spine, black and grey ticks and a whitish belly. This coloration, combined with their lithe build and longer tail, makes them look "mousy" to some eyes and, in fact, they are members of the group called ratlike hamster
Ratlike hamster
Cricetulus is a genus of rodent in the family, Cricetidae . It has seven member species. They inhabit arid or semi-arid regions in Eurasia....
s. Besides the wild colour, a well-known variation is the white-spotted Chinese hamster, which often is grayish white all over, with only a dark stripe on its back.
They can have quite vicious temperaments but are easily handled; one of their endearing traits is that of clinging to a finger with all four paws, rather like a harvest mouse on a corn stalk. Chinese hamsters can be quite nervous as youngsters but, once they are tame, can display an endearing calmness and gentleness of character.
In the past, Chinese hamsters were commonly used laboratory animals, until they were replaced by the common mouse and rat, which are easier to keep and breed; however, quite a few biotech drugs are still being produced by putting the gene for the protein into Chinese hamster ovary cell
Chinese Hamster Ovary cell
Chinese hamster ovary cells are a cell line derived from the ovary of the Chinese hamster. They are often used in biological and medical research and commercially in the production of therapeutic proteins. They were introduced in the 1960s and grow as a cultured monolayer...
s (CHO cells), which then produce the protein.
Of note, some US states such as California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
regard the Chinese hamster as a pest, and as a result require a special permit to own, breed or sell.
Colour mutations
There are only three known colour mutations found in Chinese hamsters, Normal/Wild type, dominant spot and Black Eyed White. Normal and Dominant spot are readily available in the pet trade throughout the United Kingdom (UK) whereas the Black Eyed Whites is extremely rare and there are just a handful owned by a couple of hobbyist breeders in the UK.Latin name
There is quite some confusion over the Latin name of the Chinese hamster and the closely related Chinese striped hamsterChinese Striped Hamster
The Chinese striped hamster , also known as the striped dwarf hamster, is a species of hamster. It is distributed across Northern Asia, from southern Siberia through Mongolia and northeastern China to northern North Korea. An adult Chinese striped hamster weighs 16.7-31.0g, and has a body length...
. Some people consider the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) and the Chinese striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis) different species, whereas others classify them as identical,
the Chinese striped hamster as a subspecies of the Chinese hamster (in which case the Latin name of the Chinese striped hamster would be Cricetulus griseus barabensis) or the other way round (in which case the Latin name of the Chinese hamster would be Cricetulus barabensis griseus).