''Cricetulus'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Cricetidae The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At over 870 species, it is either the largest or second-largest family ...

(

vole Voles are small rodents that are relatives of lemmings and hamsters, but with a stouter body; a longer, hairy tail; a slightly rounder head; smaller eyes and ears; and differently formed molars (high-crowned with angular cusps instead of lo ...

s and

hamster Hamsters are rodents (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 19 species classified in seven genera. They have become established as popular small pets. The best-known species of hamster is the golden or Syrian ...

s); it has seven member species that inhabit arid or semi-arid regions in Eurasia. They tend to be more

rat Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include '' Neotoma'' (pack rats), '' Bandicota'' (bandicoo ...

like in appearance than typical hamsters, hence the common name ''ratlike hamster''. Many of the species are considered dwarf hamsters. However, members of the genera ''

Allocricetulus ''Allocricetulus'' is a genus of hamsters in the family Cricetidae The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. A ...

'', ''

Tscherskia The greater long-tailed hamster (''Tscherskia triton'') is a rodent native to Siberia, the Korean Peninsula, and China. It is the only member of the genus ''Tscherskia''. Taxonomy The genetic diversity of ''Tscherskia triton'' has a positive co ...

'', and ''

Cansumys The Gansu hamster (''Cansumys canus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, endemic to China. It is the only species in the genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used ...

'' are often called ''ratlike hamsters'', and so are considered to be members of the genus ''Cricetulus'' by many authorities.

Species

Three species are universally accepted in this genus: *''Cricetulus barabensis'' —

Chinese striped hamster The Chinese striped hamster (''Cricetulus barabensis''), also known as the striped dwarf hamster, is a species of hamster. It is distributed across North Asia from southern Siberia through Mongolia and northeastern China to northern North Korea. ...

*''Cricetulus longicaudatus'' —

long-tailed dwarf hamster The long-tailed dwarf hamster (''Cricetulus longicaudatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia. Description The long-tailed dwarf hamster has a head and body length of between ...

*''Cricetulus sokolovi'' — Sokolov's dwarf hamster Two species were moved to the genus ''

Urocricetus ''Urocricetus'' is a genus of hamsters found on the Tibetan Plateau in southern Asia. These species have relatively long tails for a hamster, with brownish upperparts and a pure white underside. Taxonomy The genus ''Urocricetus'' was originally ...

'' in 2018, but have historically been included in this genus: *''Urocricetus alticola'' —

Tibetan dwarf hamster The Tibetan dwarf hamster (''Urocricetus alticola'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found not only in Tibet and China, but also in India and Nepal in mountainous regions at altitudes of up to about . It was moved from the ...

*''Urocricetus kamensis'' —

Kam dwarf hamster The Kam dwarf hamster (''Urocricetus kamensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in the mountains of western China where it inhabits grassland, shrubby marshes and steppes. Although it has a limited range, the I ...

Other species are sometimes recognized, but further research is likely needed to consider them valid: *'' Cricetulus griseus'' — usually considered a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

of ''Cricetulus barabensis'' *'' Cricetulus lama'' — considered a synonym of ''Urocricetus kamensis'' by the

American Society of Mammalogists The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) was founded in 1919. Its primary purpose is to encourage the study of mammal A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence ...

, but considered valid by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...

*''Cricetulus tibetanus'' — considered a synonym of ''Urocricetus kamensis'' by the

, but considered valid by the

Additionally, the grey dwarf hamster ''Nothocricetulus migratorius'' was included in this genus until 2018.

References

*Duff, A. and A. Lawson. 2004. Mammals of the World A Checklist. New Haven, Yale University Press. *Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. ''Walker's Mammals of the World'', 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. {{Taxonbar, from=Q869711 Rodent genera Taxa named by Alphonse Milne-Edwards

Species

See also

References