Golden Hamsterゴールデンハムスター

Mesocricetus auratusEN— Endangered

The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a small, nocturnal rodent native to a narrow arid range in northern Syria and southern Turkey. Every golden hamster kept as a pet or lab animal today descends from a single female captured with her litter in 1930. While abundant in captivity, wild populations are classified as Endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss.

Golden Hamster (reference photo)
Photo: TetraHydroCannabinol / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Rodentia / Cricetidae Source
Distribution
Native to an arid region of northern Syria and southern Turkey, inhabiting steppe, farmland, and semi-desert. Wild populations are now considered endangered due to habitat loss and persecution. Source

Did You Know?

  • Every golden hamster kept today descends from a single female and her 12 pups captured in Syria in 1930. Source
  • Its gestation period is roughly 16 days, among the shortest of any placental mammal. Source
  • It was first imported to Japan from the United States around 1939 and became established as a pet from around 1965. Source

Where to See This Species

0 facilities · 0 individuals

Verified individual animals and facilities will be added as official information becomes available.

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

野生個体群はIUCNでENに分類されています。ペットとして広く飼育される一方、野生での分布は限られます。

Habitat

シリア北部からトルコ南東部の乾燥した草地や農地周辺で巣穴を利用します。

Threats

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Are golden hamsters endangered in the wild?
Yes. Despite being extremely common as pets, wild golden hamsters are classified as Endangered due to habitat loss and persecution in their native Syria and Turkey. Source
How long do golden hamsters live?
In captivity they typically live 2 to 3 years. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org