While a great deal is known and understood about the whys and wherefores of rodents, our pet hamster species have remained somewhat elusive members of that family tree because of their wild ancestors solitary, secretive lifestyles. As is true of all rodent pets, the hamster's true beginnings are found in the wild, yet because of his tendency to burrow and spend a great deal of time underground, he was able to shield himself from prying humans for thousands of years. Consequently, the hamster is a relative newcomer to the roster of known animal species in general and pets in particular.
The classic golden, or Syrian, hamster, is the native desert rodent that evolved into several different known species of hamsters - twenty-four, to be exact - and only a few of these are kept as pets. Hamsters in general were traditionally found in a variety of regions from mountains, to deserts, to agricultural fields. As a member of the adaptable rodent family, the hamster has been ever-nimble in his ability to deal with the elements, resulting in the evolution of a large and impressive band of hamster species.
Within the rodent order, there are several suborders, the hamster being a member of the suborder Myomarpha, the mouse like rodents. This includes the various hamster species, raging in size from the tiny dwarfs that measure only 2 to 4 inches in length, to the fascinating common hamster, the grandaddy of the family, that may reach lengths of up to 8 to 11 inches, to the ever popular golden hamster that sits somewhere between the two in size.
The classic golden, or Syrian, hamster, is the native desert rodent that evolved into several different known species of hamsters - twenty-four, to be exact - and only a few of these are kept as pets. Hamsters in general were traditionally found in a variety of regions from mountains, to deserts, to agricultural fields. As a member of the adaptable rodent family, the hamster has been ever-nimble in his ability to deal with the elements, resulting in the evolution of a large and impressive band of hamster species.
Within the rodent order, there are several suborders, the hamster being a member of the suborder Myomarpha, the mouse like rodents. This includes the various hamster species, raging in size from the tiny dwarfs that measure only 2 to 4 inches in length, to the fascinating common hamster, the grandaddy of the family, that may reach lengths of up to 8 to 11 inches, to the ever popular golden hamster that sits somewhere between the two in size.
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