| The Chinese Hamster is a species of hamster,
scientific names Cricetulus griseus, which originates in the
deserts of northern China and Mongolia. These animals grow to between
7.5 and 9 cm in length and as adults can weigh 50-75 grams. They live
two to three years on average. The Chinese hamster is often kept as a
pet or (in the past) as a laboratory animal. 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 are generally kept as pets and males are used solely for
breeding and research purposes. 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 Roborovskii Dwarf Hamsters).
The wild colour is greyish brown above with a black
stripe down the spine 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
hamsters. Besides the wild colour, a well-known variation is the
white-spotted Chinese hamster, which often is greyish white all over,
with only a dark stripe on its back.
They have quiet temperaments and 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, display an
endearing calmness and gentleness of character.
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