European Hamster
Encyclopedia
The European hamster, also known as the black-bellied hamster or common hamster, is a hamster
which is the only species of the genus Cricetus. It is native to a large global range, extending from western Europe
, through central
and eastern Europe
, Russia
, and Kazakhstan
, reaching as far east as the Yenisey river. The animal is widely considered a farmland pest, and has also been trapped for its fur. Across its global range it is considered of least concern
but in many individual European countries it is considered critically endangered
.
or dwarf hamster
s which are commonly kept as pets. It weighs 220-460 g (8-16 ounces) and can grow to 20–35 cm (8-14 inches) long with a tail of 40–60 mm (1.5-2.3 inches). Its dental formula is 1/1, 0/0, 0/0, 3/3.
species. It lives singly but in a complex burrow
system. It eats seeds, legumes, root vegetables and grasses and also insects. It transports its food in its elastic cheek pouches to the food storage chambers. These may be quite large and may consist of a total of 65g of food including 50g of potatoes and 15g of grain It hibernates between October and March. During this time it wakes every five to seven days to feed from the storage chambers. The adults reach sexual maturity when they are about 43 days old and breed from early April to August. The gestation period is 18–20 days and the size of the litter ranges from 3–15 young which are weaned when aged three weeks.
land with soft loam
or loess
soil
s, although it may also inhabit meadows, gardens or hedges. It is found from Belgium
(e.g. Bertem
where there is a population) and Alsace
in the west, to Russia
in the east, and Romania
in the south.
In captivity
, the European hamster has an unusually long lifespan, living up to eight years.
The Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the European Union’s highest court, ruled June 9th 2011 that France had failed to protect the European hamster. The court said that if France does not adjust its agricultural and urbanization policies sufficiently to protect it, the government will be subject to fines of as much as $24.6 million.
Hamster
Hamsters are rodents belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. The subfamily contains about 25 species, classified in six or seven genera....
which is the only species of the genus Cricetus. It is native to a large global range, extending from western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
, through central
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, reaching as far east as the Yenisey river. The animal is widely considered a farmland pest, and has also been trapped for its fur. Across its global range it is considered of least concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
but in many individual European countries it is considered critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
.
Description
The European hamster has brown dorsal fur with white patches. The chest and belly are black. The tail is short and furred. It is much larger than the SyrianGolden 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 dwarf hamster
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...
s which are commonly kept as pets. It weighs 220-460 g (8-16 ounces) and can grow to 20–35 cm (8-14 inches) long with a tail of 40–60 mm (1.5-2.3 inches). Its dental formula is 1/1, 0/0, 0/0, 3/3.
Behavior
The common hamster is a nocturnal or crepuscularCrepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
species. It lives singly but in a complex burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
system. It eats seeds, legumes, root vegetables and grasses and also insects. It transports its food in its elastic cheek pouches to the food storage chambers. These may be quite large and may consist of a total of 65g of food including 50g of potatoes and 15g of grain It hibernates between October and March. During this time it wakes every five to seven days to feed from the storage chambers. The adults reach sexual maturity when they are about 43 days old and breed from early April to August. The gestation period is 18–20 days and the size of the litter ranges from 3–15 young which are weaned when aged three weeks.
Distribution
It is typically found in low-lying farmFarm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
land with soft loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
or loess
Loess
Loess is an aeolian sediment formed by the accumulation of wind-blown silt, typically in the 20–50 micrometre size range, twenty percent or less clay and the balance equal parts sand and silt that are loosely cemented by calcium carbonate...
soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s, although it may also inhabit meadows, gardens or hedges. It is found from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(e.g. Bertem
Bertem
Bertem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Bertem proper, Korbeek-Dijle and Leefdaal. On January 1, 2006 Bertem had a total population of 9,215...
where there is a population) and Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
in the west, to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in the east, and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in the south.
In captivity
Captivity (animal)
Animals that live under human care are in captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either domesticated animals or wild animals. This may include for example farms, private homes and zoos...
, the European hamster has an unusually long lifespan, living up to eight years.
The Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the European Union’s highest court, ruled June 9th 2011 that France had failed to protect the European hamster. The court said that if France does not adjust its agricultural and urbanization policies sufficiently to protect it, the government will be subject to fines of as much as $24.6 million.