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TERMS & CONDITIONS |
The
Syrian
Hamster
Cricetus auratus
or
Mesocricetus
auratus
A British zoologist George Waterhouse is credited with
finding a female golden hamster in the Syrian Desert in 1839. He named it
the Golden Hamster, "Cricetus auratus" because of its colour. Also
known as Syrian hamster.
During the first part of the 1900s the wild Syrian hamster
was thought to have become extinct. Then around 1930, another zoologist, a
professor at the University of Jerusalem Aharoni found another female with
a litter of in the Syrian Desert. When he returned to his laboratory, all
but a couple had died or escaped. The remaining hamsters were given to the
Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where they were bred as Golden Hamsters.
These were thought to be a bit bigger than the ones George Waterhouse found, so they were named "Mesocricetus
auratus" commonly named The Syrian Hamster, although they are probably
the same species. They arrived in the UK about 1931. Just about all Golden
Hamsters are descended from this litter.
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The hamsters were sent to laboratories around the world. Because hamsters
are so disease-free and breed so rapidly (they can have a new litter every
month!) and because they are so friendly and easy to handle, hamsters are
used for scientific research. They are a popular choice among scientists
for cardio-vascular research. Their cardio-vascular system is very similar
to that of humans.
Wild Syrian hamsters are classed as agricultural pests. An individual
hamster has been known to store in excess of 30 kg of grain.
To read more about pet hamsters select a topic from the
HAMSTER INDEX on the left of this page.
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