Cricetulus hamster habitat diet size and images petworlds

Cricetulus hamster

Cricetulus hamster

Cricetulus is a genus of rodent in the family Cricetidae (voles and hamsters). It has seven member species. They inhabit arid or semi-arid regions in Eurasia.

They tend to be more ratlike in appearance than typical hamsters, hence the common name “ratlike hamster.”

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Cricetinae
Genus: Cricetulus

Habitat and Ecology

Inhabits desert country to shrubland to forests and alpine meadows in southern part of the range. Also found in rocky mountain steppe and semi-desert habitats, preferentially foothills and southern sides of mountains where poa and bushes grow.

Most abundant in piedmont semidesert and low cereal steppe up to 1900 m asl. It occupies shallow burrows often constructed under rocks that extend horizontally beneath the surface. Feeds mostly on seeds, sometimes use insects. Constructs food stores and grass-lined nests. Sometimes occupies burrows built by other small mammals. Nocturnal. At least two litters of 4-9 young are produced each year, beginning in March or April.