ETYM German hamster.
Rodent of the family Cricetidae with a thickset body, short tail, and cheek pouches to carry food. Several genera are found across Asia and in SE Europe. Hamsters are often kept as pets.r /> Species include the Eurasian black-bellied or common hamster Cricetus cricetus, about 25 cm/10 in long, which can be a crop pest and stores up to 90 kg/200 lb of seeds in its burrow. The golden hamster Mesocricetus auratus lives in W Asia and SE Europe. All golden hamsters now kept as pets originated from one female and 12 young captured in Syria 1930.
Short-tailed Old World burrowing rodent with large cheek pouches. + prikaži više