Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Small Mammal Pets/Answer Key"

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''This article concerns a particular breed of rabbit, the Netherland dwarf.  For information on domestic rabbits in general, see [[Domestic rabbit]].''
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{{Taxobox
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''For information on the country, see [[Netherlands]]''
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| color = pink
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| name = Roborovski Hamster
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| image = Roborovski hamster.jpg
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| image_width = 220px
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
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| phylum = [[Chordata]]
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
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| ordo = [[Rodent]]ia
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| familia = [[Cricetidae]]
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| subfamilia = [[Cricetinae]]
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| genus = ''[[Phodopus]]''
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| species = '''''P. roborovski'''''
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| binomial = ''Phodopus roborovski''
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| binomial_authority = ([[K. A Satunin|Satunin]], 1903)
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}}
  
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[[Image:Netherlanddwarfbunny.jpg|right|thumb|A pet Netherland Dwarf]]
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'''Roborovskis''' ('''''Phodopus roborovski''''') are the smallest and fastest of all [[hamster]]s and are commonly kept as [[pet]]s. Distinguishing characteristics of the Roborovskis are the white spots where their eyebrows would be, and the lack of a dorsal stripe commonly seen in dwarf hamsters. On average, they live the longest of any pet hamsters, on average three to three and a half years of age.
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The '''Netherland Dwarf''' is a popular [[breed]] of [[domestic rabbit]] (''Oryctolagus cuniculus'').  Smaller than most [[List of rabbit breeds|rabbit breeds]], Netherland dwarf rabbits weigh 1 to 3 [[pound (mass)|lb]] (0.5 to 1.4 kg) and are usually kept as [[pet]]s or exhibition animals. They are not typically used as sources of [[meat]] or [[fur]] because their small size makes them inefficient for these purposes.
 
  
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Most rabbits sold in [[pet store]]s are Netherland dwarfs, Netherland dwarf-[[selective breeding|derived breeds]] (often referred to simply as ''[[#Dwarf breeds|dwarf breeds]]''), or dwarf [[hybrid|crosses]]. Their popularity as pets stems from their [[baby]]ish appearance and their [[cage]] space requirement, which is smaller than that of larger rabbit breeds, although they should be given a reasonably large exercise run because of their energetic characters.
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They are very curious, however easily startled and generally quite shy.  They are social and, when socialised from an early age, sleep together in one place. They are not usually recommended for families with children, due to their flighty and sensitive temperament. Also, they are not as affectionate as other, more robust breed of hamster. Roborovski hamsters do not like to be held or cuddled, and do not form trusting relationships with humans easily. As they grow to be roughly the size of an adults thumb, they can easily squeeze through the bars of a standard hamster cage, and so careful consideration needs to be given to housing. Because of their size and speed, Roborovskis are best for people who prefer to observe rather than to play with their pet.
  
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==History==
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Because of their size and features, they can be comical pets when observed in social groups.  If kept together in mixed sex pairs or groups Roborovski Hamsters usually start to breed in the spring following the year in which the female was born. Females often become sterile at around 24 months of age but males usually remain fertile for most of their life.
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The Netherland dwarf was first bred in the [[Netherlands]], as its name implies, in the early [[20th century]].  Medium-sized rabbits of various breeds were bred with wild [[European rabbit]]s of unusually small size; after several generations the resulting animal was a very small domestic rabbit available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.  Netherland dwarfs were first imported into the [[United Kingdom]] in the [[1950s]]. In the [[1960s]] and [[1970s]] the [[United States]] imported its first Netherland dwarf rabbits.
 
  
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Early dwarfs, even into the 1970s and [[1980s]], had fearful and sometimes aggressive [[temperament]]s as a result of [[breeder]]s selecting [[breeder (animal)|breeding animals]] for size, not [[personality]]. These rabbits behaved more like [[wild]] rabbits than domestic animals and did not make good pets. However, through generations of [[selective breeding]], the modern Netherland dwarf has become a gentle, friendly pet rabbit, though it still retains a more energetic disposition than larger breeds.
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Roborovski hamsters gestate for around 23-30  days. When the young are born they resemble pink beans. At around 5-6 days the skin may start to pigment and at 6-8 days hair begins to emerge. By 10-12 days the babies are covered in short fur and the eyelids are beginning to mature. At this time the babies may also start wandering around the cage, even though still blind. The female will usually collect the wandering babies and return them to the nest - this may be accompanied by squealing from the babies but is not usually anything to worry about. At 14-16 days of age the eyes open and the babies are fully covered in fur.  
  
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==Appearance==
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==External links==
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[[Image:Netherlanddwarf-loki.jpg|thumb|right|Young Netherland dwarf in a mismarked Himalayan pattern]]
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*[http://www.hamster-heaven.com Hamster Heaven]
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[[Purebred]] Netherland dwarfs come in a wide variety of colors, including [[List of rabbit breeds#Himalayan|Himalayan]], Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Smoke Pearl, Sable Point, Tortoiseshell, Chestnut, Siamese Sable, Opal, Lynx, Squirrel, [[List of rabbit breeds#Chinchilla|Chinchilla]], Otter, Tan, Silver Marten, Sable Marten, Smoke Pearl Marten, Orange, Fawn, Steel, Blue-Eyed White and Ruby Eyed White. Other colors (including ''mismarks'') exist in non-show-quality Netherland dwarfs and in dwarf [[mongrel]] rabbits.
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*[http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/images/roborovski.jpg Image of a roborovskii]
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*[http://roborovski.tk/ R&R Hamsters (a.k.a. Roborovski Hideout)]
  
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Netherland dwarfs' [[head]]s and [[eye]]s are disproportionately large with respect to their bodies, and their ears are tiny and carried high on the head.  Additionally, their faces are rounded and shortened.  These features, a part of the animals' [[dwarfism]], cause them to look [[infant]]ile even into [[adulthood]].
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[[Category:Hamsters]]
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[[Category:Mammals of Asia]]
  
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Dwarf crosses frequently retain some of these characteristics, depending on the breed the dwarf is crossed with.  However, crosses rarely look as babyish as the [[purebred]] dwarfs and are usually somewhat larger.
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[[de:Roborowski-Zwerghamster]]
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[[fr:Hamster de Roborovski]]
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==Netherland dwarfs as pets==
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[[it:Phodopus roborovskii]]
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:''Main article: [[Domestic rabbit#Rabbits as Pets|Domestic rabbit]]''
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[[ja:ロボロフスキーハムスター]]
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[[pl:Chomik Roborowskiego]]
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===Behavior===
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[[fi:Roborovskinkääpiöhamsteri]]
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Netherland dwarf rabbits have the same basic behavioral traits as other domestic rabbits. They can be litter-trained and socialized with [[dog]]s and [[cat]]s.
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[[zh:沙漠侏儒倉鼠]]
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They tend to have [[wikt:spunky|spunkier]] and more energetic [[temperament]]s than larger breeds of rabbit and are rarely content to sit still when outside of the cage.  They are curious animals and have a tendency to nibble on nearby objects and even human beings.  However, they are extremely fragile animals and easily stressed, and as such they do not make good pets for young children.
 
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===Diet===
 
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Like other domestic rabbits, dwarf rabbits consume [[grasses]], [[cereal|grains]], and other succulent [[Leaf vegetable|greens]]. Their [[digestive system]] is somewhat less hardy than their larger cousins, and many leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage can give them health problems.  Generally [[hay]] and a [[pellet]]ed feed should make up the largest portion of their diet.
 
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==Dwarf breeds==
 
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Rabbit breeds derived from breeding larger rabbits with the Netherland dwarf are known as ''dwarf breeds''.  Most smaller breeds, like the Mini-Rex, the Jersey Wooly, and the Holland lop, are results of such breedings.  Generally dwarf breeds are slightly larger than the typical Netherland dwarf, not growing larger than 4 to 5 lb (1.8 to 2.3 kg).  Most have shortened faces compared to larger rabbits, and some even preserve the rounded [[head]], large [[eye]]s, or small [[ear]]s of the Netherland dwarf.
 
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Most dwarf breeds are intended to bring a specialized characteristic, such as a specific fur type, into a smaller rabbit.  Mini-Rex were created through the breeding of dwarfs with [[List of rabbit breeds#Rex|Rex]] rabbits, a fur breed with a short, [[plush]] coat, and retain both the dwarf's size and the Rex fur.  Jersey Woolies are a dwarf version of the [[Angora rabbit]], a [[wool]]-producing breed.  [[List of rabbit breeds#Lop|Lop]]-eared rabbit breeds, interbred with dwarfs, were used to create [[Holland lop]] and Mini-lop rabbits.
 
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==See also==
 
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*[[List of rabbit breeds]]
 
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*[[American Rabbit Breeders' Association]]
 
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*[[Cuteness]]
 
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[[Category:Rabbits as pets]]
 
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[[Category:Leporids]]
 
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[[zh:荷蘭侏儒兔]]
 

Revision as of 16:57, 3 October 2006

Template:Taxobox

Roborovskis (Phodopus roborovski) are the smallest and fastest of all hamsters and are commonly kept as pets. Distinguishing characteristics of the Roborovskis are the white spots where their eyebrows would be, and the lack of a dorsal stripe commonly seen in dwarf hamsters. On average, they live the longest of any pet hamsters, on average three to three and a half years of age.

They are very curious, however easily startled and generally quite shy. They are social and, when socialised from an early age, sleep together in one place. They are not usually recommended for families with children, due to their flighty and sensitive temperament. Also, they are not as affectionate as other, more robust breed of hamster. Roborovski hamsters do not like to be held or cuddled, and do not form trusting relationships with humans easily. As they grow to be roughly the size of an adults thumb, they can easily squeeze through the bars of a standard hamster cage, and so careful consideration needs to be given to housing. Because of their size and speed, Roborovskis are best for people who prefer to observe rather than to play with their pet.

Because of their size and features, they can be comical pets when observed in social groups. If kept together in mixed sex pairs or groups Roborovski Hamsters usually start to breed in the spring following the year in which the female was born. Females often become sterile at around 24 months of age but males usually remain fertile for most of their life.

Roborovski hamsters gestate for around 23-30 days. When the young are born they resemble pink beans. At around 5-6 days the skin may start to pigment and at 6-8 days hair begins to emerge. By 10-12 days the babies are covered in short fur and the eyelids are beginning to mature. At this time the babies may also start wandering around the cage, even though still blind. The female will usually collect the wandering babies and return them to the nest - this may be accompanied by squealing from the babies but is not usually anything to worry about. At 14-16 days of age the eyes open and the babies are fully covered in fur.

External links

de:Roborowski-Zwerghamster fr:Hamster de Roborovski it:Phodopus roborovskii ja:ロボロフスキーハムスター pl:Chomik Roborowskiego fi:Roborovskinkääpiöhamsteri zh:沙漠侏儒倉鼠

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