Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Small Mammal Pets/Answer Key"
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| − | [[ | + | {{Taxobox |
| + | | color = pink | ||
| + | | name = Chinese Hamster | ||
| + | | image = Chinese Hamster.jpg | ||
| + | | image_width = 220px | ||
| + | | image_caption = Chinese hamster, white-spotted type | ||
| + | | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | ||
| + | | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | ||
| + | | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ||
| + | | ordo = [[Rodentia]] | ||
| + | | familia = [[Cricetidae]] | ||
| + | | genus = ''[[Cricetulus]]'' | ||
| + | | species = '''''C. griseus''''' | ||
| + | | binomial = ''Cricetulus griseus'' | ||
| + | | binomial_authority = Milne-Edwards, 1867 | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | The '''Chinese Hamster''' is a species of [[hamster]], scientific names ''Cricetulus griseus'', which originates in the [[desert]]s of northern [[China]] and [[Mongolia]]. These animals grow to between 7.5 and 9 cm in length and as adults can weigh 50-75 grams. They live two to three years on average. The Chinese hamster often kept as pet or (in the past) as laboratory animal. | ||
| − | + | A Chinese hamster's body proportions, compared with those of other hamsters, appear "long and thin" and they have (for a hamster) a relatively long tail. Chinese hamsters are not, technically, [[dwarf hamster|"dwarf" hamsters]] since this term refers to animals in the genus ''Phodopus'', (the two types of [[Phodopus sungorus|Russian Dwarf Hamster]]s and [[Phodopus roborovski|Roborovskii Dwarf Hamster]]s). | |
| − | + | The wild colour is greyish brown above with a black stripe down the spine and a whitish belly. This colouration, combined with their lithe build and longer tail, makes them look "mousy" to some eyes and, in fact, they are members of the group called [[ratlike hamster]]s. Besides the wild colour, a well-known variation is the white-spotted Chinese hamster, which often is greyish white all over, with only a dark stripe on its back. | |
| − | + | They have quiet temperaments and are easily handled; one of their endearing traits is that of clinging to a finger with all four paws, rather like a harvest mouse on a corn stalk. Chinese hamsters can be quite nervous as youngsters but, once they are tame, display an endearing calmness and gentleness of character. | |
| − | + | In the past, Chinese hamsters were commonly used [[Experimental animal|laboratory animals]], until they were replaced by the common mouse and rat, which are easier to keep and breed. However, quite a few biotech drugs are still being produced by putting the gene for the protein into [[Chinese Hamster Ovary cell|Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells]], which then produce the protein. | |
| − | + | Of note, some [[US]] states such as [[California]] regard the Chinese hamster as a pest, and as a result require a special permit to own, breed or sell. | |
| − | The | + | ==The latin name== |
| − | + | There is quite some confusion over the latin name of the Chinese hamster and the closely related [[Chinese striped hamster]]. Some people consider the Chinese hamster (''Cricetulus griseus'') and the Chinese striped hamster (''Cricetulus barabensis'') different species [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=10028], whereas others classify them as identical [http://walnut.bioc.columbia.edu/srs7bin/cgi-bin/wgetz?-id+4mKAd1Sl9c0+%5Btaxonomy-ID:10029%5D+-e], the Chinese striped hamster as a subspecies of the Chinese hamster (in which case the latin name of the Chinese striped hamster would be ''Cricetulus griseus barabensis'') [http://www.ratbehavior.org/pet_rodent_classification.htm] or the other way round (in which case the latin name of the Chinese hamster would be ''Cricetulus barabensis griseus'') [http://www.napak.com/chinese_hamster.html]. | |
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| − | + | ==References== | |
| − | + | *[http://www.napak.com/chinese_hamster.html The Chinese Hamster] | |
| − | + | *[http://www.hamster-heaven.com Hamster Heaven] | |
| − | + | *[http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/mammalia/rodentia/cricetidae/cricetulus/index.html Taxonomy of hamsters] | |
| − | + | *[http://www.ratbehavior.org/pet_rodent_classification.htm Pet rodent classification] | |
| − | == | + | *[http://www.mike-duquette.org/Hamster_Pages/species.htm Hamster species] |
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Chinese Striped Hamster]] | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Hamsters]] | |
| − | + | [[Category:Mammals of Asia]] | |
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| − | [[ | + | [[fr:Hamster de Chine]] |
| + | [[ja:チャイニーズハムスター]] | ||
| + | [[hr:Kineski hrčak]] | ||
| + | [[nl:Chinese dwerghamster]] | ||
| + | [[pl:Chomik chiński]] | ||
Revision as of 01:19, 6 November 2006
Template:Taxobox The Chinese Hamster is a species of hamster, scientific names Cricetulus griseus, which originates in the deserts of northern China and Mongolia. These animals grow to between 7.5 and 9 cm in length and as adults can weigh 50-75 grams. They live two to three years on average. The Chinese hamster often kept as pet or (in the past) as laboratory animal.
A Chinese hamster's body proportions, compared with those of other hamsters, appear "long and thin" and they have (for a hamster) a relatively long tail. Chinese hamsters are not, technically, "dwarf" hamsters since this term refers to animals in the genus Phodopus, (the two types of Russian Dwarf Hamsters and Roborovskii Dwarf Hamsters).
The wild colour is greyish brown above with a black stripe down the spine and a whitish belly. This colouration, combined with their lithe build and longer tail, makes them look "mousy" to some eyes and, in fact, they are members of the group called ratlike hamsters. Besides the wild colour, a well-known variation is the white-spotted Chinese hamster, which often is greyish white all over, with only a dark stripe on its back.
They have quiet temperaments and are easily handled; one of their endearing traits is that of clinging to a finger with all four paws, rather like a harvest mouse on a corn stalk. Chinese hamsters can be quite nervous as youngsters but, once they are tame, display an endearing calmness and gentleness of character.
In the past, Chinese hamsters were commonly used laboratory animals, until they were replaced by the common mouse and rat, which are easier to keep and breed. However, quite a few biotech drugs are still being produced by putting the gene for the protein into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which then produce the protein.
Of note, some US states such as California regard the Chinese hamster as a pest, and as a result require a special permit to own, breed or sell.
The latin name
There is quite some confusion over the latin name of the Chinese hamster and the closely related Chinese striped hamster. Some people consider the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) and the Chinese striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis) different species [1], whereas others classify them as identical [2], the Chinese striped hamster as a subspecies of the Chinese hamster (in which case the latin name of the Chinese striped hamster would be Cricetulus griseus barabensis) [3] or the other way round (in which case the latin name of the Chinese hamster would be Cricetulus barabensis griseus) [4].
References
See also
fr:Hamster de Chine ja:チャイニーズハムスター hr:Kineski hrčak nl:Chinese dwerghamster pl:Chomik chiński
