Hamsters

HAMSTERS

Hamsters are cute little animals with short legs and a small tail. Depending on the kind, they range in size from two to six inches in length. Because they have poor vision. hamsters rely on their ears, nose, and whiskers to investi- gate their surroundings. Their keen sense of smell helps them find food and even helps them to recognize their owner.

Hamsters have large cheek pouches that extend down over their shoulders. They use their pouches to carry food back to their nest to store. In the wild the habit of hoarding food helps hamsters survive when food is scarce.

Both males and females use urine, feces, and skin gland secretions to scent mark. In the wild male and female hamsters use scent marks to delineate their territory, to attract a mate, and to commu- nicate. Dwarf hamsters have skin glands on their bellies. The better-known Syrian (or golden) hamsters have skin glands on their hips.

HAMSTER HISTORY

Hamsters were first coveted by medical researchers in China during the early 1920s when it was discovered that the striped or Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) was very

susceptible to infection with Leishmania donovani, the protozoan organism that causes Kala-azar. This disease afflicts people in India. China. Russia, Africa, the Mediterra- nean basin, and several South and Central American coun- tries. The Chinese hamster was the first satisfactory laboratory animal for the study of Leishmaniasis.

Farmers were paid by the researchers for each hamster they dug up in their grain fields. The supply was ample and thousands were used. The hamsters were kept in isolated cages because if they were placed together. Hamsters have cheek pouches that are used to store food