Sokolov's dwarf hamster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sokolov's dwarf hamster |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cricetulus
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| Species: |
sokolovi
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The Sokolov's dwarf hamster (Cricetulus sokolovi) is a small rodent in the hamster and vole family called Cricetidae. For a while, people thought it was the same as the Chinese striped hamster. But in 1988, scientists decided it was a different species. This hamster has a special dark stripe down its back. Its body is mostly grey. You can find these hamsters in China and Mongolia. They live in burrows under desert shrubs.
About Its Name and Family
Scientists first thought the Sokolov's dwarf hamster was a type of Chinese striped hamster (C. barabensis obscurus). But in 1988, they found out it was unique. They noticed differences in its chromosomes and its fur. Because of these differences, they made it a separate species. The hamster is named after a Russian zoologist (a scientist who studies animals) named Vladimir E. Sokolov.
What Does It Look Like?
This hamster has grey fur with a bit of a brown-yellow color. A dark stripe runs along its back. This stripe goes from the back of its neck all the way to its tail. The stripe is easier to see on younger hamsters and gets lighter as they get older.
Its feet are white, and its toes curl upwards. Its ears are the same color as its fur. There is a dark grey spot in the middle of the inside of its ears.
- Its head and body are about 77 to 114 millimeters (3 to 4.5 inches) long.
- Its tail is about 18 to 32 millimeters (0.7 to 1.3 inches) long.
- Its ears are about 13 to 19 millimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long.
- Its skull is usually about 23 to 26 millimeters (0.9 to 1 inch) long.
Where Does It Live?
Sokolov's dwarf hamsters like to live in burrows. They build these burrows under desert shrubs in sandy areas. You can find them in western and southern Mongolia. This includes parts of the northern and eastern Gobi. They also live in central Inner Mongolia in northern China.
In Mongolia, the biggest dangers to these hamsters are droughts. Droughts are long periods with very little rain. This causes water sources to dry up. About six percent of the areas where these hamsters live in Mongolia are protected. This means these areas are safe from some human activities.
Reproduction
Sokolov's dwarf hamsters start having babies in the middle of May. Each year, a female hamster can have two or three litters (groups of babies). Each litter usually has between four and nine young hamsters.
