''Cricetulus'' is a genus of

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

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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 almost 608 species, it is the second-largest family of mammals, and has m ...

(

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 low-c ...

s and

hamster Hamsters are rodents (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 19 species classified in seven genera.Fox, Sue. 2006. ''Hamsters''. T.F.H. Publications Inc. They have become established as popular small pets. The b ...

s); it has seven member species that inhabit arid or semi-arid regions in Eurasia. They tend to be more ratlike 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, which are found in Asia. It contains the following species: * Mongolian hamster The Mongolian hamster (''Allocricetulus curtatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricet ...

'', ''

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 c ...

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

Species

*''Cricetulus alticola'' —

Tibetan dwarf hamster The Tibetan dwarf hamster (''Cricetulus 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 . Description The Tibet ...

*''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 Northern Asia, from southern Siberia through Mongolia and northeastern China to northern North Ko ...

*''Cricetulus griseus'' — Chinese hamster *''Cricetulus kamensis'' —

Kam dwarf hamster The Kam dwarf hamster (''Cricetulus 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 ...

*''Cricetulus lama'' —

Lama dwarf hamster The Lama dwarf hamster (''Cricetulus lama'') 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 Inter ...

*''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 migratorius'' —

grey dwarf hamster The grey dwarf hamster, grey hamster or migratory hamster (''Cricetulus migratorius'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. Its range extends from Eastern Europe through the Middle East, Russia and Central Asia to Mongolia and western ...

*''Cricetulus sokolovi'' —

Sokolov's dwarf hamster Sokolov's dwarf hamster (''Cricetulus sokolovi'') is a species of rodent in the hamster and vole family Cricetidae. Previously listed as conspecific with Chinese striped hamster, it has been listed as a separate species since 1988. It has a disti ...

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 Henri Milne-Edwards

Species

See also

References