Probably everyone is familiar with such cute rodents like hamsters. There are several types of them, and they perfectly live with people as pets. But the ordinary hamster is not the same as its domestic counterparts, it is very different from them.
Animal description
This type of hamster is considered the largest of all that are now known. The body of an adult animal grows to an average of 30 cm and has a dense build. This "baby" weighs about half a kilogram, and sometimes more. The tail reaches 4-6 cm, while it is thick at the base and pointed to the end, covered with small hard hairs. The paws of the animal are short and have claws to facilitate movement. His ears are small. The common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) has special cheek pouches in which it can put about 50 grams of grain.
Color of the animal
The animal has a beautiful multi-colored skin. The main color is reddish, breast and abdomen are black. Paws, nose, cheeks and several spots on the sides are white. Depending on the habitat, its tone may be lighter or darker. Sometimes there are animals in which a non-standard black and white or pure black color. Many agree that an ordinary hamster is the most beautiful of its family. Therefore, for the sake of bright fur they hunt him with special dogs.
Where does the hamster live
Typically, the size of a hamster depends on the area in which it lives. You can meet him in the south of Europe, mainly in the steppe zone. He also lives in Northern Kazakhstan and Western Siberia. Of course, sometimes an ordinary hamster climbs into new territories for him, even in cities. He prefers to settle near vegetable gardens or fields in order to provide for his food.
Lifestyle
Many of the cartoons know that the hamster is a thrifty animal. He is a good boss who has been working all summer. Around August, he begins to make global reserves in order to provide himself with food for the whole winter and spring. To save food, the common hamster digs long burrows of different durations. He has many passages and chambers, designed separately for the nest, several pantries, a winter hut, a bedroom, a dining room. In total, the length of all its corridors can be about 8 meters. All cameras are deep enough so that nothing happens in the cold with the treasures of the animal. Sometimes an ordinary hamster can occupy a ground squirrel hole and settle there. In addition to collecting supplies, the animal is engaged in the fact that it monitors the cleanliness of its litter and regularly replaces it with fresh water. With the onset of frost, the animal hibernates, waking up from time to time to eat.
This animal is aggressive and does not tolerate the neighbors of relatives. If another hamster wanders into its territory, he will fight with him. It is known that, protecting the entrance to its burrow, this “fluffy” can attack not only predators, but even humans, and at the same time it can bite painfully. But, despite such courage, the animal can die, becoming the prey of a ferret, fox or bird. He is able to run fast and jump sharply, but if he is calm, he steps slowly enough. Basically, the hamster begins to swarm and leave the mink only with the arrival of the evening. At dawn, he sets off for refuge. An ordinary hamster spends his whole day there. The photo below shows the animal resting in the mink.
Diet
An animal can eat a variety of foods, but its main dish is plant food. His diet contains herbs, peas, grains, flowers, corn, alfalfa, seeds and tubers. But on occasion, he will not refuse to eat insects or invertebrates. Frogs, lizards, chicks, and sometimes mice can become its victims. As autumn approaches, hamsters begin to actively stock up on food, which they carry in their bags, holding them with their paws. By the beginning of winter, the animal’s pantries are filled with a large number of tubers and seeds (from 500 g to 25 kg). Therefore, in order to provide for itself, an ordinary hamster prefers to settle near agricultural land. Surprisingly, this "owner" found burrows in burrows in which various varieties of cereals were stacked separately.
Sometimes many relatives can be located in one territory, which leads to a lack of nutrition. Therefore, an ordinary hamster can move to other areas. During such migrations, even rivers are not afraid of the animal , since it easily overcomes them.
Rutting Period and Motherhood
With the advent of spring, the hamster leaves its winter hole and goes in search of the female. In her hole, he can stumble upon an opponent with whom a fight will necessarily take place. After victory, he marks the hole and waits for the consent of the female. Having got what he wants, the hamster goes home. The female, three weeks after this meeting, has a brood in which there can be from 4 to 20 heirs. Each hamster weighs about 5 grams, and in the second week they open their eyes, and the body is overgrown with wool. If the offspring are in danger, the mother transfers him to a quiet place in bags intended for food.
A month later, the kids become independent and are forced to leave their native nest. Freed from motherhood, the female is ready to accept the male again. In one season, the animal can have two or three, and sometimes five broods happen. An ordinary hamster becomes mature by the age of three months, so by the end of summer young offspring may have their own babies.
Relationship with man
People like to have different cute animals at home . But very rarely an ordinary hamster becomes a person’s pet. The description of his life shows that this animal needs freedom and does not like society. Therefore, other breeds were bred to be kept in the cells. In addition to its aggressiveness (in captivity, maliciousness is not so pronounced), this beast is distinguished by the fact that it carries diseases, such as encephalitis. But some people still decide to get such a beast. Experience proves that it will never become tame. In addition, difficulties may arise when, with the onset of spring, the animal will have natural needs, and he will need to look for a couple. Some specimens are able to breed in captivity. The hamster has a lifespan of approximately 8 years.
Of its kind, Cricetus cricetus is the only representative. Of course, there are still many animals that belong to the hamster family. But unlike their rodent relatives that can be tamed, this one cannot be domesticated and feels best at large. This hamster was first described by a scientist in 1774.
It is worth noting that in many areas this beast is a pest that steals cultivated plants, and therefore undergoes targeted destruction. But the huge speed of its reproduction contributes to the fact that the animal is not threatened with extinction. Also, this beast is used as a laboratory animal.