Mongolian Hamster - Profile | Facts | Traits | Dwarf | Range

(Last Updated On: April 15, 2021)

The Mongolian Hamster, scientific name Allocricetulus curtatus is a species of rodent within the Cricetidae family. It is present in China and Mongolia. They are identified for consuming huge portions of rice and plenty of contemplating them as pests.

Mongolian Hamster profile

The largest Mongolian Hamster ever recorded weighed over 25 kilograms and was given a Chinese nickname that roughly interprets into English as “He who has no face”.

It was proven beforehand that the Mongolian hamster (Allocricetulus curtatus) is a mammalian species with irregular brief hibernation.

The goal of the present research was to find out how this standing impacts seasonal modifications within the biochemical and hematological parameters in A. curtatus males below a natural temperature and light regime.

It was discovered {that a} discount in circulating white blood cells, particularly lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes, occurred in winter, and bilirubin ranges elevated in spring.

These traits make Mongolian hamsters nearer to the true hibernating species. At the identical time, the character of seasonal modifications within the variety of red blood cells, glucose, total protein, creatinine, and albumin is nearer to species with torpor.

Mongolian Hamster Description

Hamsters are sometimes stout-bodied, with tails shorter than body size, and have small, furry ears, brief, stocky legs, and vast feet. They have thick, silky fur, which could be long or brief, colored black, gray, honey, white, brown, yellow, red, or a mixture, relying on the species.

Two species of hamster belonging to the genus Phodopus, Campbell’s dwarf hamster (P. campbelli) and the Djungarian hamster (P. sungorus), and two of the genus Cricetulus, the Chinese striped hamster (C. barabensis) and the Chinese hamster (C. griseus) have a darkish stripe down their heads to their tails.

The species of genus Phodopus are the smallest, with our bodies 5.5 to 10.5 centimeters (2 1⁄Four to Four 1⁄Four in) long; the most important within the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), measuring as much as 34 cm (13 1⁄2 in) long, not together with a brief tail of as much as 6 cm (2 1⁄2 in).

The hamster tail could be troublesome to see, as it’s often not very long (about 1⁄6 the size of the body), excluding the Chinese hamster, which has a tail the identical size because of the body.

One rodent attribute that may be extremely seen in hamsters is their sharp incisors; they’ve an higher pair and decrease pair which develop repeatedly all through life, so should be often worn down.

Hamsters are very versatile, however, their bones are considered fragile. They are extraordinarily vulnerable to fast temperature modifications and drafts, in addition to excessive warmth or chilly.

Mongolian Hamster Senses

Hamsters have poor eyesight; they’re nearsighted and colorblind. Their eyesight results in them not having a superb sense of distance or understanding the place they’re at.

Even although their eyesight is not good it does not cease a hamster from climbing their cages and even from them being adventurous. Hamsters can sense motion round always.

This sense helps them defend themselves from hurt within the wild however in a family scenario, it helps them sense when their owner could also be close to and is perhaps going to select them up.

Hamsters have scent glands on their flanks (and abdomens in Chinese and dwarf hamsters) which they rub towards the substrate, leaving a scent path. Hamsters additionally use their sense of scent to differentiate between the sexes and to find meals.

Mother hamsters can even use their sense of scent to seek out their very own infants and discover out which of them aren’t theirs. The scent glands can be used to mark their territories, their infants, or their mate. Hamsters catch sounds by having their ears upright.

They are likely to be taught related noises and start to know the sound of their meals and even their owner’s voice. They are additionally significantly delicate to high-pitched noises and might hear and talk within the ultrasonic range.

Mongolian Hamster Diet

Hamsters are omnivores which implies they’ll eat meat and greens. Hamsters that dwell within the wild eat seeds, grass, and even bugs. Although pet hamsters can survive on a diet of solely industrial hamster meals, different gadgets, resembling greens, fruits, seeds, and nuts, could be given.

Although store-bought meals are sweet for hamsters it’s best if vegetables and fruits have been added to their diet as a result of it retains them more healthy.

Even although hamsters are allowed to have vegetables and fruits, you will need to perceive precisely which of them they’ll have and the way a lot. Hamsters do finest with fruits that do not have a variety of citrus in them and most green leafy greens.

Hamsters shouldn’t be fed junk meals, chocolate, garlic, or any salty/sugary meals. Hamsters have a tendency to like peanut butter however you will need to feed it to them fastidiously as a result of this sticky meals can get caught in their cheeks.

Hamsters within the Middle East have been identified to hunt in packs to seek out bugs for meals. Hamsters are hindgut fermenters and eat their very own feces (coprophagy) to get well vitamins digested within the hind-gut, however not absorbed.

Mongolian Hamster Feeding

A behavioral attribute of hamsters is meal hoarding. They carry meals of their spacious cheek pouches to their underground storage chambers. When full, the cheeks could make their heads double, and even triple in size.

Hamsters shed some pounds throughout the autumn months in anticipation of winter. This happens even when hamsters are stored as pets and is expounded to a rise in train.

Mongolian Hamster Social behavior

Most hamsters are strictly solitary. If housed collectively, acute and power stress could happen, they usually could struggle fiercely, typically fatally.

Dwarf hamster species could tolerate siblings or same-gender unrelated hamsters if launched at an early sufficient age, however, this can’t be assured.

Hamsters talk by body language to 1 one other and even to their owner. They talk by sending a particular scent utilizing their scent glands and likewise present body language to specify how they’re feeling.

Longevity

Syrian hamsters sometimes dwell no more than two to 3 years in captivity and fewer within the wild. Russian hamsters (Campbell’s and Djungarian) dwell about two to 4 years in captivity and Chinese hamsters 2 1⁄2–3 years. The smaller Roborovski hamster typically lives to 3 years in captivity.

Mongolian Hamster Burrowing behavior

All hamsters are wonderful diggers, developing burrows with one or more entrances, with galleries linked to chambers for nesting, meal storage, and different activities. They use their fore- and hind legs, in addition to their snouts and teeth, for digging.

In the wild, the burrow buffers excessive ambient temperatures supply comparatively stable weather conditions and protect against predators. Syrian hamsters dig their burrows usually at a depth of 0.7 m.

A burrow features a steep entrance pipe (4–5 cm in diameter), a nesting and a hoarding chamber, and a blind-ending branch for urination. Laboratory hamsters haven’t lost their skill to dig burrows; in actual fact, they are going to do that with great vigor and skill if they’re supplied with the suitable substrate.

Wild hamsters may even acceptable tunnels made by different mammals; the Djungarian hamster, for example, makes use of paths and burrows of the pika.

Mongolian Hamster Reproduction

Hamsters develop into fertile at totally different ages relying on their species. Both Syrian and Russian hamsters mature rapidly and might start reproducing at a younger age (4–5 weeks), whereas Chinese hamsters will often start reproducing at two to 3 months of age, and Roborovskis at three to 4 months of age.

The feminine’s reproductive life lasts about 18 months, however, male hamsters stay fertile for much longer. Females are in estrus about every 4 days, which is indicated by a reddening of genital areas, a musky scent, and a hissing, squeaking vocalization she is going to emit if she believes a male is close by.

When seen from above, a sexually mature feminine hamster has a trim tail line; a male’s tail line bulges on either side. This may not be very seen in all species. Male hamsters sometimes have very massive testes in relation to their body size.

Before sexual maturity happens, it’s more troublesome to find out a younger hamster’s sex. When examined, feminine hamsters have their anal and genital openings shut collectively, whereas males have these two holes farther aside (the penis is often withdrawn into the coat and thus seems like a gap or pink pimple).

Mongolian Hamster Gestation and fecundity

Syrian hamsters are seasonal breeders and can produce several litters a year with a number of pups in every litter. The breeding season is from April to October within the Northern Hemisphere, with two to 5 litters of 1 to 13 younger being born after a gestation interval of 16 to 23 days.

Dwarf hamsters breed all by the year. Gestation lasts 16 to 18 days for Syrian hamsters, 18 to 21 days for Russian hamsters, 21 to 23 days for Chinese hamsters, and 23 to 30 for Roborovski hamsters.

The average litter size for Syrian hamsters is about seven pups, however could be as great as 24, which is the utmost variety of pups that may be contained within the uterus.

Campbell’s dwarf hamsters are likely to have 4 to eight pups in a litter however can have as much as 13. Winter white hamsters are likely to have barely smaller litters, as do Chinese and Roborovski hamsters.

Intersexual aggression and cannibalism

Female Chinese and Syrian hamsters are identified for being aggressive towards males if stored collectively for too long after mating. In some instances, male hamsters can die after being attacked by a feminine. If breeding hamsters, separation of the pair after mating is really useful, or they are going to assault one another.

Female hamsters are additionally significantly delicate to disturbances whereas giving delivery, and will even eat their very own younger in the event that they assume they’re in peril, though typically they’re simply carrying the pups of their cheek pouches.

If captive feminine hamsters are left for prolonged durations (three weeks or more) with their litter, they might cannibalize the litter, so the litter should be eliminated by the point the younger can feed and drink independently.

Mongolian Hamster Weaning

Hamsters are born hairless and blind in a nest the mom could have ready upfront. After one week, they start to discover outside the nest. Hamsters are able to produce litter each month.

Hamsters could be bred after they’re three weeks old. It could also be arduous for the infants to not depend on their mom for nursing throughout this time, so it will be important that they’re provided with meals to make the transition from nursing to consuming on their very own simpler.

After the hamsters attain three weeks of age they’re thought of mature.

Mongolian Hamster – Profile | Facts | Traits | Dwarf | Range | Diet