Give a Yiti

You are here: Home

Pets

Syrian hamster (Latin Mesocricetus auratus)

Written by admin

Thursday, 15 January 2009

It's the most well-known species of hamster. His history as a pet and laboratory is unique. The first specimen was caught in 1839 by British zoo-worker George Waterhouse near the town of Aleppo in Syria and put on show at the British Museum in London. It was also attributed to his name in Latin cricetus auratus, hamster or goldfish. Nearly one hundred years later, in 1930, Professor Aharoni of Jerusalem has organized an expedition to the Syrian desert to capture the next copies. The project has been successful: 12 young females has been captured.

Only three have managed to survive transport to the Zoological Institute in Jerusalem. Multiply so rapidly that by the end of 1930 there were 300 hamsters. He then assigned to their current Latin name: Mesocricetus auratus, hamster or goldfish average (as opposed to the larger and smaller hamster hamsters karłowatych). As the animals reproduce so quickly and are relatively easy to maintain, use them and are used as experimental animals. It was only in 1945 began to keep them as pets. All the current Syrian hamsters living in captivity come from 3 hamsters caught by Professor Aharoni!
Syrian hamster body length is about 15 cm, weights 130 - 150 g, back is gold or brązowozłocisty, white bottom, always brighter on the back. As a result of breeding varieties were different from typical coloring Syrian hamster (eg, gray or beige), or multicolored.

Multiply throughout the year (female, born 7 - 8 times a year) so the fertility of this species is very high. Female 16-day pregnancy gives birth to the 6 to 12 young people. Young reach sexual maturity at 1 to 2 months. Syrian hamster live in captivity from 2 to 3 years.