Chinese striped hamster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chinese striped hamster |
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Cricetulus
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| Cricetulus barabensis |
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A Chinese striped hamster is a small type of rodent, also known as the striped dwarf hamster, that lives in parts of Asia. It's known for the dark stripe that runs down its back.
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Scientific name
The scientific name for the Chinese striped hamster is Cricetulus barabensis. It was first described way back in 1773 by a German scientist named Peter Simon Pallas.
There's a bit of discussion about whether the Chinese striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis) is its own separate species or if it's actually a type (or subspecies) of the closely related Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus).
What do they look like?
- Size: These hamsters are quite small. An adult usually measures between 72 and 116 millimeters (that's about 2.8 to 4.6 inches) from its nose to the base of its tail.
- Weight: They are also very light, typically weighing between 20 and 35 grams (about 0.7 to 1.2 ounces). That's less than a small candy bar!
- Tail: Unlike some hamsters you might see in pet stores, the Chinese striped hamster has a noticeable tail, though it's still quite short compared to its body. The tail is usually between 15 and 26 millimeters long (about 0.6 to 1.0 inches). This is much shorter than the tail of a relative called the greater long-tailed hamster, which lives in some of the same areas.
- Colour: Their fur is usually a pale greyish-brown on their back. The most distinctive feature is that faint, but clear, blackish stripe running right along their spine. Their belly fur is grey with white tips, giving them a slightly lighter underside.
- Other Features: They have a short snout, eyes that are set wide apart, and neat, rounded ears. The edges of their ears are often blackish with a little white fringe.
Where do they live?
The Chinese striped hamster calls a large part of central and eastern Asia its home. Their range includes:
- Western Siberia in Russia
- The Tuva region and the Trans-Baikal region in Russia
- Mongolia
- Northeastern China
- The Primorsky Krai region in Russia
- Korea (specifically northern North Korea)
These hamsters are well-adapted to living in places that are quite dry. Their favourite homes are arid and semi-arid grasslands, wide-open steppe lands, and semi-desert areas. These are places with lots of grasses, shrubs, and not too many trees. Sometimes, they even venture into farmland or occasionally find their way into buildings, probably looking for food or shelter.
Burrows
Chinese striped hamsters are expert diggers. They spend a lot of their time underground in burrows that they create themselves. These burrows are like their underground homes, providing safety from predators and the weather.
A typical burrow can be up to a meter (about 3 feet) long and dug up to half a meter (about 1.5 feet) below the surface of the ground. That's quite a digging project for such a small animal.
Their burrows usually have several entrances, each about 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) wide. Having multiple entrances is a smart idea – if a predator tries to get in one way, they can escape through another.
Inside the burrow, there are side passages that lead to different rooms. Some of these rooms are used as storage chambers, where the hamster keeps all the food it collects. Other rooms are nesting chambers, which are cozy spots for sleeping and raising their young.
Behavior and diet
Like many small rodents, Chinese striped hamsters are most active when the sun goes down. They are crepuscular, which means they are most active during the twilight hours – especially in the early part of the night. This is when they come out of their burrows to search for food.
Their diet mainly consists of seeds, particularly seeds from grains and legumes (like beans and peas). They are excellent foragers, using their keen senses to find tasty snacks. The hamster uses special pouches inside its cheeks to carry food back to its burrow. This is much more efficient than carrying one seed at a time! Any food they don't eat right away is stored in those underground chambers for later.
Hibernation
When winter arrives in the cold parts of their range, Chinese striped hamsters don't just tough it out above ground. They hibernate. Hibernation is a special state where an animal's body slows down dramatically. Their heart rate and breathing slow, and their body temperature drops. This allows them to save energy and survive the cold months when food is scarce. They usually go into hibernation during the winter and emerge when the weather starts to warm up, typically in February or March.
Reproduction
Chinese striped hamsters are busy during the warmer months when it comes to having families. Reproductive activity happens throughout the spring, summer, and autumn. A single female hamster can have several litters during this period – sometimes as many as five!
Breeding is most active in March and April, right after they come out of hibernation, and there's often another busy period in the autumn. The average number of babies in a litter is six or seven, but sometimes a mother hamster can have up to ten offspring at once. The babies are born blind and helpless and rely completely on their mother for care in the safety of the burrow.
Conservation Status
Because they are common and widespread, the IUCN has assessed their conservation status as being of "least concern." This means they are not currently considered to be threatened or endangered.
However, like many animals, they can be affected by things happening in their habitat, such as losing their grassland homes due to too much grazing by livestock or damage from wildfires. Keeping their habitat healthy is important for their continued well-being.
See also
In Spanish: Hámster chino para niños
