Chinese dwarf hamsters (or simply Chinese hamsters) are native to southern China and Mongolia. They belong, unlike the other dwarf hamsters, to the genus cricetulo. The full scientific name of him is Cricetulus barabensis griseus.
Compared to the other dwarf hamster species, these animals have long, narrow bodies. People who see them for the first time often think they are a rat or mouse instead of a hamster. Not only is their face long as a mouse, but they also have a long, well, long tail compared to other hamster tails.
They also differ from the other dwarf hamsters in that Chinese dwarf hamsters are quite good climbers. Their feet can grip much better than other dwarves, and they can wrap tightly around upright posts, just like your finger.
Their total body length, including their head, is 10 cm (4 in), making them one of the longest dwarf hamster species. Their tails are about 1 inch to 1 5/16 inches long (25-34 mm); and weigh between 1 3/8 and 1 5/8 ounces (39-46 g). They live anywhere from one and a half to three years, which is pretty typical for dwarf hamsters.
While some of the other dwarf species have multiple coat colors and patterns, the Chinese dwarf hamster so far has a different color variation. The standard color is called agouti, which means that the hairs change color from black at the base of the hair to brown at the tip of the hair. The pattern called the dominant spot is mostly white, although it may have dark spots on the flanks. Both animals have a dark stripe that runs from the shoulders to the tail.
Chinese hamsters were used in scientific laboratories before they became pets. They were first used in 1919 and have been used to study pneumonia, influenza, diphtheria, and rabies. For a long time, hamsters did not breed in captivity. In fact, it was this problem that led scientists to look for another type of hamster to use. This search resulted in the capture of the Syrian hamster.
These little creatures, yes the Chinese hamsters, have landed men in jail. In 1948, just before the communist takeover of China, Dr. Hu of the Peking Union Medical School gave some specimens to Dr. Robert Watson to take to Harvard Medical School. The animals were literally smuggled into the United States, and both scientists were charged with war crimes by the Chinese government, which thought the hamsters were part of a biological weapons program. Dr. Hu was, in fact, jailed.
Later, in 1957, a Chinese hamster ovary was isolated and the cells reproduced. Since then, these cells have reproduced over and over again. And CHOs (Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells) have been used to create an incredible number of drugs, treating everything from infertility to hemophilia to cancer.
So as you play with your pet, realize that their ancestors have played an unprecedented role in advancing medicine.