In the family of hamsters there are 240 species of rodents. The region of their habitat is quite wide: all of America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan, Primorye, and even part of Siberia. Gamma color and external data (size, shape) are very diverse. Rodents are found from ashy and grayish-brown to brown-buffy. For some, a black stripe can be seen along the back, and white spots on the abdomen and neck.
Some breeds are artificially bred (long-haired (Angora), snow-white (albinos)). If you talk about each type in detail, you get a very voluminous and weighty book, so we will describe only the most popular. Read on how to identify a hamster breed.
1. Common hamsters, found especially often, are small (up to 30 cm with a tail) and bright in color. The top is red, the bottom is darker, almost black. On the chest and sides of the head are 3 small white spots. Another color is also possible - black and white and almost black (very rare).
2. Domestic rat-shaped hamsters (Tscherscia triton) are slightly smaller than ordinary ones (up to 25 cm). They are distinguished by a long single-color tail (up to 10 cm) with a light tip, on which, unlike the rat, there are no transverse ringlets. They have a gray-brown color. The bottom is slightly lighter than the top. This breed is distinguished from voles by
large ears and white paws.
3. Gray hamsters are quite small - from 9 to 13 cm, with a small (up to 3 cm) ponytail, covered with short hairs (or bare). They have relatively small ears of rounded shape and a sharp muzzle; the feet are slightly downy, with well-marked finger tubercles. The color of the coat of this breed is gray with a smoky or brownish tint. In individual individuals, a dark (blurred) streak passes from the head to the tail. Abdomen and legs are white.
4. Eversmann hamsters are large
house mice. Paws are short; the tail is small, compacted, covered with soft thick hairs; the muzzle is a little pointed; ears are small, rounded. The fur on the back is most often fawn-red or ash-sand. The belly is snow-white, contrasting with the dark sides. The chest is decorated with a brownish or ocher vague (not clear) spot. The fur coat is soft, velvety. The bottom of the tail and legs are white.
5. Golden hamsters are similar to ordinary hamsters: small in size (7–9 cm), stocky, with short ponytails. Initially, they had a reddish-brown (or golden yellow) back and a lighter abdomen. The coat is velvety, thick, very soft. Now this breed of hamsters has several varieties: Angora (fluffy), semi-Angora and short-haired. The color (from snow-white to black) also became richer. The most popular spotted hamsters (butterflies) and fawn.
6. Hamsters of the Dzungarian breed are the most common and studied. In nature, steppes and semi-desert zones of Siberia, Kazakhstan (northeastern zone), and Asia were populated. In recent decades, have firmly established themselves in amateur living corners and research institutions. In size, it is half as large as golden hamsters (up to 10 cm), with an amazing appearance of a good-natured bumpkin, cute and fluffy. The muzzle, as with most individuals, is pointed, with small blackish and white ears inside. The soles of the white paws are covered with thick hairs covering the finger tubercles. The color of the back is ocher gray or brownish gray. A narrow black strip stretches along the ridge. The sides can be a tone or two darker. Abdomen is light, with distinctly defined borders. In winter, these animals brighten, acquiring an almost white color. More active and lively than other representatives.
All these breeds of hamsters adapt perfectly to captivity and are even able to breed (from 1.5-4 months). Non-aggressive. Easy to tame.