Phodopus

Dwarf Hamsters Temporal range: Pleistocene to Recent
Dwarf Russian Hamster
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Superfamily:	Muroidea
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Cricetinae
Genus:	Phodopus Miller, 1910
Species
Phodopus campbelli Phodopus roborovskii Phodopus sungorus

Phodopus is a genus of rodent in the vole and hamster family Cricetidae. These species, as well as those in the genus Cricetulus, are known as the "dwarf hamsters", because of their small size.

Species

• Genus Phodopus - short-tailed dwarf hamsters
  • Phodopus campbelli - Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
  • Phodopus roborovskii - Roborovski's (Desert) Dwarf Hamster
  • Phodopus sungorus - Winter White Russian (Dzhungarian) Dwarf Hamster

Although more limited in color than the Syrian Hamster, dwarf hamsters are an alternative to pet owners who enjoy a smaller, more sociable hamster.

The Campbell's Dwarf Hamster and Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster, which is often referred to in Russian as a "Shwi-shwi", usually live between 1.5 and 2.5 years and reach a length of about 8-10cm. The Chinese Hamster is 10-12cm in length and usually lives to 2.5 to 3 years. The Roborovski Hamster is the smallest at only 4-5cm and lives for 3 to 3.5 years.The Russian Winter White is 8-10cm, as are the Campbell's. Due to the similarity in size and color, they are mistaken as one species.

References

• Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9

External links

• Pet Web Site (formerly The Complete Hamster Site) section on Hamsters
• Russian Dwarf Hamsters information from breeder Jean McGuire
• Hamster Twittery News