|
<div class="boilerplate metadata vfd" style="background-color: #FFF5F5; margin: 2em 0 0 0; padding: 0 10px 0 10px; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA;">
{{Taxobox
:''The following discussion is an archived debate of the case of suspected sockpuppetry. <span style="color:red">'''Please do not modify it.'''</span> No further edits should be made to this page. All edits should go to the talk page of this case. If you are seeing this page as a result of an attempt to open a new case of sockpuppetry of the same user, [[Wikipedia:Sock_puppetry/Notes_for_the_accuser|read this]] for detailed instructions.''
| color = pink
===[[User:Charlie.somerville]]===
| name = Hamsters
;Suspected sockpuppeteer
| fossil_range = Middle [[Miocene]] - Recent
{{user5|1=Charlie.somerville}}<br>
| image = Hamster Ruso.jpg
| image_caption = Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| ordo = [[Rodent]]ia
| subordo = [[Myomorpha]]
| superfamilia = [[Muroidea]]
| familia = [[Cricetidae]]
| subfamilia = '''Cricetinae'''
| subfamilia_authority = [[Johann Fischer von Waldheim|Fischer de Waldheim]], 1817
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
''[[Mesocricetus]]''<br>
''[[Phodopus]]''<br>
''[[Cricetus]]''<br>
''[[Cricetulus]]''<br>
''[[Allocricetulus]]''<br>
''[[Cansumys]]''<br>
''[[Tscherskia]]''
}}
'''Hamsters''' are [[rodent]]s belonging to the [[subfamily]] '''Cricetinae'''. The subfamily contains about 18 [[species]], classified in six or seven [[genus|genera]]. Because they are easy to breed in captivity, hamsters are often used as [[lab animal]]s and kept as [[pet]]s.
;Suspected sockpuppets
==Habitat==
{{user5|1=Bradlow idiot}}<br>
Hamsters are indigenous to the [[Middle East]], south-eastern [[Europe]], and in the case of dwarf hamsters, [[Russia]], [[Mongolia]] and [[China]]. They prefer colder climates. They typically burrow.
{{user5|1=58.107.252.48}}<br>
;Report submission by
==Diet==
'''[[User:AAA!|<span style="color:red">AAA!</span>]]''' <small>([[User talk:AAA!|<span style="color:green">AAAA</span>]])</small> 03:34, 23 June 2007 (UTC)
Hamsters are omnivorous. Fresh [[vegetable]]s and [[fruit]], seeds, and [[insect]]s such as [[grasshopper]]s make up an important part of hamsters' natural diet.
;Evidence
==Behaviour==
Bradlow Idiot's {{contribs|Bradlow idiot|contribs}} on my user page ([http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:AAA%21&diff=next&oldid=139874179 diff]) practically match the vandalism [[User:Charlie.somerville|Charlie.somerville]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:AAA%21&oldid=137551894 made] on my user page. [[User:58.107.252.48|58.107.252.48]] also [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:AAA%21&diff=139877136&oldid=139875559 vandalised] my user page in the same pattern. If they are not sockpuppets, then I suspect them to be [[WP:MEAT|meatpuppets]].
Hamsters are [[crepuscular]], though some will awaken during the day for short periods.
;Comments
The word <I>hamster</I> comes from the German <I>hamstern</I>, meaning <I>to hoard</I><ref>http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/about_hamsters.htm</ref> and this is because they often carry food away from the source in their cheek pouches and hoard it away in a cache.
Looks like a match. Charlie last edited under his own name more than a week ago, and he left an apology note, so blocking his account would be pointless IMO. Bradlow idiot should be indef-blocked as a sock/vandal-only account. The IP has been firmly warned by Fram, and that should be sufficient. [[User:YechielMan|Yechiel]][[User talk:YechielMan|<span style="color:green">Man</span>]] 08:36, 24 June 2007 (UTC)
<br>
<br>
It isn't me. Must be one of my cronies who were around me while I was vandalising your page.<br>
Go ahead and block [[User:Bradlow idiot|Bradlow idiot]] but don't mark it against my account.
[[User:Charlie.somerville|Charlie.somerville]] 03:14, 26 June 2007 (UTC)
;Conclusions
==Reproduction==
I took a closer look, and I believe that Charlie is innocent. A friendly word of advice to Charlie: it's not a good idea to edit other people's userpages without their permission to write dirty jokes. Even though you reverted it without a fuss, you should not have done it in the first place.
Hamsters become fertile at different ages dependent on their species, but this can be from 1 month to 3 months of age. Male hamsters remain fertile for the rest of their lives, though females do not. Females are "on heat" approximately every three days.
I checked Charlie's editing pattern in the contribution log. He tends to make a few edits in a day, then disappear for two or three weeks, then return for a few more edits. His last edit had been on June 12. Then he returns on June 26, makes three ordinary edits as if nothing happened, and comes to defend himself in this case.
Gestation lasts 16-18 days for [[Syrian hamster]]s, 18-21 days for the Russian hamsters, 21-23 days for [[Chinese hamster]]s and 23-30 for [[Roborovski Hamster]]s. The average litter for Syrians is about 7, but can be as great as 24, which is the maximum number of pups that can be contained in the uterus. [[Campbell's Dwarf Hamster]]s tend to have 4-8 in a litter but can have up to 14. [[Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster]]s tend to have slightly smaller litters, as do [[Chinese hamster|Chinese]] and [[Roborovski Hamster|Roborovski]] hamsters.
Bradlow idiot came along on June 22 and made a throwaway edit to revert to the last vandalism version by Charlie. In order to do that, he needed to be a sockpuppet of ''someone'' - newbies don't know how to navigate page history and revert on their first edit - but that doesn't establish ''whom'' he is impersonating. It could be someone else.
Hamsters are born hairless and blind in a nest which the mother will have prepared in advance. After 1 week they begin to explore outside the nest. They are completely weaned after 3 weeks, or 4 for [[Roborovski Hamster]]s.
It just doesn't make sense to me that Charlie would vandalize as a joke, ''revert his own vandalism'', apologize to [[User:AAA!]] on his talk page, and come back ten days later to revert to the vandalism version. It's totally irrational on many levels.
==Pet Ownership==
[[Image:Peach.jpg|thumb|left|A Syrian or [[Golden Hamster]], ''Mesocricetus auratus'']]
The best-known species of hamster is the [[Golden Hamster|Syrian or Golden Hamster]] (''Mesocricetus auratus''), which is the type of hamster most commonly kept as a [[pet]]. It is also sometimes called a "fancy" hamster. Pet stores also have taken to calling them "honey bears," "panda bears," "black bears," "European black bears," "polar bears," and "Dalmatian", depending on their coloration. There are also several variations, including long-haired varieties that grow hair several centimeters long and often require special care.
Charlie, I'm willing to give you a free pass on this as long as you behave yourself and avoid vandalizing pages, even if it's just a joke (unless you wish to fool around in the [[WP:SANDBOX]]. I suppose we could do a checkuser, but I don't think it's necessary.
Other hamsters that are kept as pets are the four species of "[[dwarf hamster]]". [[Campbell's dwarf hamster|Campbell's Dwarf Hamster]] (''[[Phodopus campbelli]]'') is the most common of the four — they are also sometimes called "Russian Dwarfs"; however, many hamsters are from Russia, and so this ambiguous name does not distinguish them from other species appropriately. The coat of the [[Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster|Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster]] (<I>Phodopus sungorus</I>) turns white during winter (when the hours of daylight decrease). The [[Roborovski Hamster]] (<I>Phodopus roborovskii</I>) is extremely small and fast. The [[Chinese Hamster]] (<I>Cricetulus griseus</I>), although not technically a true "dwarf hamster", is the only hamster with a [[prehensile]] tail (about 4cm long) - most hamsters have very short, non-prehensile tails.
{Disclosure: I am YechielMan above. I changed my usernaeme.) [[User:Shalom|Shalom]] <sup>[[User talk:Shalom|Hello]]</sup> 03:36, 26 June 2007 (UTC)
Many breeders also show their hamsters and so breed towards producing a good healthy show hamster with a view to keeping one or two themselves so quality and temperament are of vital importance when planning the breeding. Although breeders of show hamsters specialise in breeding show hamsters, there are also owners who have bred their [[pet]] hamsters. These may be the result of a planned or unplanned pregnancy but the hamsters have usually been cared for well and handled regularly, so make very suitable pets. Buying a hamster directly from a breeder means that there is the opportunity to see the parents and know the dates of birth.
:The friend explanation actually makes sense here, so I'll give the benefit of the doubt this time around, given that Charlie.somerville has been editing constructively. Charlie, if you just want a page to screw around with, you can create a subpage in your userspace (such as [[User:Charlie.somerville/sandbox]]) and do whatever test edits you like to it. [[User:Seraphimblade|Seraphimblade]] <small><sup>[[User talk:Seraphimblade|Talk to me]]</sup></small> 00:33, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
===Housing===
Hamsters can be kept both in cages and in [[terrarium|terrania]], both of which are available in pet stores. Cages are easier to carry; their bars can be used for climbing. On the other hand, glass boxes keep hamsters from throwing litter out of their cages, provide a better view into the hamster's home, and create a quieter and more sheltered interior.
This can make sense actually. You might not know, but me and Charlie know each other in person, and we also go to the same school. I saw Charlie on Wikipedia, and he had the vandalised diff on a separate notepad document (this was before he apologized to me, by the way). It is possible that he may have given that to his friends, and they created accounts, edited the page, and replaced it with the vandalised edit that was on the doc. So it's possible that they could be [[WP:MEAT|meatpuppets]] or even just [[Wikipedia:Single-purpose account|single-purpose accounts]]. Hope that shined some light on that.
Despite the hamster’s small size, appropriate housing should always have a floor space of at least two square feet and a strong top because hamsters are surprisingly good climbers. Glass boxes must not be higher than their width to allow for a sufficient air circulation. Although smaller in size, dwarf hamsters often need more spacious housing than their larger relatives, at least 80cm by 40cm (2 feet by 4 feet) due to their high activity levels.
And Charlie, I'd like to let you know that I'm not doing this for revenge; I'm doing it because you broke some of Wikipedia's rules, such as [[WP:VAND|this]], [[WP:NPA|this]], and possibly [[WP:SOCK|this]]; and it alerted my suspicions since those edits on my page were practically the same ones you made. Heck, if it was someone in Canada who did the exact same thing on my user page, I'd still have taken the same measures that I took against you. If I wanted revenge, I would've talked to you in person or something similar, and not get Wikipedia involved (because there's no point to do it on Wikipedia when we can simply do it in person). Hope there are no hard feelings between us. --'''[[User:AAA!|<span style="color:red">AAA!</span>]]''' <small>([[User talk:AAA!|<span style="color:green">AAAA</span>]])</small> 00:37, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
In the case of self-built dwellings, care should be taken to avoid materials that are dangerous to the animals. [[Plywood]] and wood from [[conifer]]s is not suitable, because hamsters gnaw at their houses and both [[adhesive|glue]] and [[resin]] are poisonous to them. Using standard water-soluble white wood glue to join pieces of solid wood, such as [[birch]] or [[beech]] wood, creates a safe environment for the hamster, although it may still chew through the wood. A purchased cage can be equipped with several intermediate levels, connected using stairs.
----
Hamsters do best in a well-lit room of constant, moderate temperature (18 to 26[[Celsius|°C]], 64 to 80[[Fahrenheit|°F]]), in a place out of strong sunlight that could cause dangerous heating.
</div>
<!-- DO NOT EDIT THE "----" NOR THE </div> KEEP THEM WHERE THEY ARE. REMEMBER TO SIGN! USING FOUR TILDES -->
The floor of a hamster's residence is generally covered with a layer of litter. Litter made from recycled paper or wood lacking aromatic oils (such as [[aspen]]) is healthiest - gnawing and eating cat litter can be deadly, and cedar, pine, or other softwood-based litters may contain [[phenols]] that can irritate a hamster's respiratory system, liver, and skin. There is also commercial bedding available, such as Carefresh and Megazorb.
<gallery>
Image:Hamster Cage - Recoloured.jpg|An often-used type of hamster cage with tubes
Image:Hamstercage.jpg|Hamster cage with wheel and water bottle
Image:Hamster_Cages.JPG|Note that these standard tubes cannot be used at a steep incline with dwarf hamsters.
</gallery>
===Exercise and entertainment===
[[Image:000_2769.JPG|thumb|right|This wheel is too small for the hamster.]]
Like all pets, hamsters need exercise and entertainment to maintain their physical and mental health. "[[Hamster wheel|Exercise wheels]]" allow hamsters to run full speed, and are a common fixture in pet hamsters' enclosures. Avoid using wheels with individual rungs or bars, but rather select those with a solid base for comfortable running. This is because a hamster may trip and their legs may get caught on the rungs of the wheel while using it. Olive oil(which is harmless to a hamster if ingested) can be used to lubricate the axle of the exercise wheel to reduce friction and cut down on turning noises when in use. Other common objects are plastic balls or cars that the hamster can be placed in so that they can be supervised while exploring outside their cage. Hamsters can also swim. Lack of exercises for a hamster may cause it to suffer from paralysis, and the affected hamster will have a hunched over posture.<ref>http://www.hamsterhideout.com/ailments.html</ref>
Hamsters are nest builders, so most owners supply strips of tissue or toilet paper so they may build a secure spot in a corner or in their "house". Avoid using newspapers as the [[ink]] on it might be ingested when the hamster chews on them. Hay is also a valuable building material for cozy hamster nests, but may pose the risk of having pesticides on it or sharp pieces that could cut or scratch the hamster. Therefore, select dry hay such as Timothy and use the softer, leafy parts of the hay rather than the stems. Sawdust made from pine is not suitable for nesting material as stated earlier. Fine chinchilla sand (not chinchilla dust because the powdery material will cause respiratory problems) can be given in an enclosed container. Hamsters enjoy rolling in the sand to keep their fur clean and dry. Hamsters, like many rodents, are also gnawers, and must be supplied with appropriate materials for doing so. An edible gnaw toy or an unpainted wooden block can be placed in the cage. Failure to do so can cause dental problems for the hamster. The incisors, which grow continually, will become too long and cause discomfort and/or eating problems.
===Food===
Many hamsters tend to carry food from the source (by carrying it in their cheek pouches) and hoard it away in a cache hidden somewhere inside their container. Fresh [[vegetable]]s and [[fruit]]s, seeds, and [[insect]]s like [[grasshopper]]s make up an important part of hamsters' natural diet. However, not all foods are suitable for hamsters and some, such as sweets made for humans or poisonous plants like the ''leaves'' of the [[tomato]] or [[rhubarb]], are dangerous for hamsters. Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons should never be fed to a hamster, their stomachs can not handle the acid, also Iceburg lettuce has very little nutritional value and in excess can cause liver problems, [[Campbell's dwarf hamsters]] are susceptible to hereditary [[diabetes]], and any hamster suffering from diabetes should not have high sugar foods, such as fruit and corn.
In detail, the solid food components can be divided into three categories: dry, fresh, and animal food. Dry food generally makes up the bulk of a hamster's diet. Besides the standard rodent food sold in pet stores, most other kinds of [[seed]]s, kernels, and [[nut (fruit)|nuts]] can be given. Bird food like [[millet]] is a noteworthy alternative for small hamsters.
===Sex and longevity===
[[Image:Roborovski Dwarf Hamster - Colour Corrected.jpg|thumb|right|A Roborovski Dwarf Hamster]]
[[Image:Hamster with babies.jpg|thumb|right|A female [[Teddy Bear Hamster]] with her two babies, who are less than one week old.]]
<!--Attention editors: perhaps a chart for average lifespans and litter-size would relieve some of the congestion below.--->
Syrian hamsters typically live no more than two to three years in captivity, less than that in the wild. Russian Hamsters (Campbell's and Winter White) live approximately 1.5 to 2 years in captivity, and Chinese Hamsters 2.5 to 3 years. The smaller [[Roborovski Hamster]] often lives to 3 to 3.5 years in captivity. Both Syrian and Russian hamsters mature quickly and can begin reproducing at a young age (4-5 weeks), whereas Chinese hamsters will usually begin reproducing at 2-3 months of age, and Roborovskis at 3-4 months of age. Sex is when 2 people get naked . The boy often sticks his dick in the girl's vagina
Left to their own devices, hamsters will produce several litters a year with several babies in each litter. [[Male]] and [[female]] hamsters are therefore usually kept in separate enclosures to prevent the addition of unwanted offspring. When seen from above, a sexually mature female hamster has a trim tail line; a male's tail line bulges on both sides. Male hamsters typically have very large [[testes]] in relation to their body size. Before sexual maturity occurs at about 4-6 weeks, young hamsters are more difficult to sex. When examined, female hamsters have two holes close together, whereas males have anal and genital openings further apart than the female's. (The penis is usually withdrawn into the coat and thus appears as a hole or pink pimple.)
===Health conditions===
[[Image:Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster Pupils.PNG|thumb|right|The ___location of hamster pupils is not always obvious, but can be seen clearly with an infrared camera.]]
====Dental problems====
Misalignment of [[incisor#The Rodent incisor|incisor]]s due to injury or malnutrition may result in overgrowth, which can cause injury to the roof of the mouth. Symptoms include a drop or loss of appetite, drooling, weight loss, or foul breath. The only cure is for a veterinarian to regularly trim the overgrown incisors and prescribe antibiotics.<ref name="caringtogether">http://www.caringtogether.com/exotics/hamsters3.html#a</ref>
====Trauma====
Common injuries are caused by hamsters being dropped or falling, usually while inside an "exercise ball", which can cause broken limbs or a fractured spine, for which there is no cure. Injured hamsters should be examined immediately by a veterinarian to determine the best course of action in each situation.<ref name="caringtogether"/> <BR><BR>
====Trauma - Hot or Cold====
Hamsters need to be kept in a temperature which is comfortable to most humans. This is good, but occasionally they can get too hot or too cold.
A hot girl is a sexy girl
If a hamster is too hot, he may get heat stroke. An animal with heat stroke may be lethargic and limp. His ears will be down. He might be sweaty or his fur matted. If you suspect heat stroke put your hamster in a cool ___location and mist him gently with cool water. When he seems revived, place him in his cage in a cool ___location and make sure he has plenty of cold water and cold moist fruits (such as apple) to replenish his fluids.
If a hamster is too cold, he may develop induced hibernation. In this state he won't be able to be easily woke up and is cold to the touch. Revive the hamster by handling him and talking to him in a VERY warm ___location. Use a heater or a lamp or even the bathroom with hot steamy water running, but do not place the hamster's cage directly on the heating source or it could get too hot. After he is revived, keep him very warm for about ten hours and then make sure he is not chilled again.
If a too hot or too cold hamster is not revived by the above treatment within 20 minutes, he needs immediate emergency vet care. To avoid this trauma in the future:
1) Never place a hamsters cage in a window, on or near a heat source (even an infrequent one like a fireplace) or in a room that gets a lot of midday sun.
2) Never let your hamster cage sit directly on a cold surface like a cement floor. if your must keep your pet in the garage or basement, put his cage on a raised platform and provide insulation in the form of a blanket wrapped around the bottom third of the cage and taped securely with electrical tape.
3) If you think your hamster is getting too cold in the winter nights, provide extra nesting material (like toilet paper) and make sure he has a snug house inside his cage. Additionally you may want to aim a lamp at the cage which is a less expensive way to provide heat to a small area that a space heater.
4) A hot girl is a sexy girl.
5) When in doubt, pick your hamster up. He should feel neither cold nor warm to the touch.
====Bladder stones====
Hamsters are susceptible to [[bladder stone]]s. Although the owner will typically not detect the stone, symptoms include frequent and painful urination, blood in urine, increased water consumption, and loss of appetite. Only a veterinarian can remove the stone and provide appropriate antibiotics.<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Tumors====
[[Tumor]]s, both benign and malignant, are fairly common in pet hamsters, and are most common in older females. Usually, the tumors involve hormone-producing organs, causing hormone imbalances, hair loss, and changes in behavior. If it is an external tumor, a veterinarian can often perform surgery, but internal tumors are much more difficult to remove, since the animal is so small, so the owners typically elect not to operate, but, rather, to [[euthanasia|euthanize]] the pet.<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Neglect====
A common problem for hamsters is neglect, which can cause them to not get adequate food and water, causing serious health concerns, including serious dehydration, starvation, stomach ulcers, eating of bedding material, and cannibalism. It is important to check water bottles regularly, as they often become clogged or contact bedding, draining the bottles.<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Abscesses====
[[Abscess]]es, caused by either bite wounds from fighting or by harsh food or bedding, are likely to become infected, forming abscesses that appear as firm, painful lumps under the skin. If an abscess is detected or suspected, it must be drained or removed by a veterinarian before prescribing antibiotics.<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Wet tail====
The most serious intestinal disease of hamsters is "wet tail", or [[proliferative ileitis]], which is most common among weaning hamsters (3-6 weeks) and [[Golden Hamster|Syrian hamsters]]. Symptoms include lethargy, increased irritability, hunched posture, fluid or bloody diarrhea, a wet, soiled anal area and tail, and, sometimes, [[rectal prolapse]]. A veterinarian is needed to immediately examine and evaluate the situation and will usually treat the problem with fluid replacement, oral antidiarrheal medication, and antibiotics, although treatment is often unrewarding, and death may occur as soon as 48 hours after the onset of initial signs.<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Salmonellosis====
Several species of the bacterium [[salmonella]] can cause serious intestinal disease in hamsters and is transmittable to humans. The bacterium is usually acquired by eating contaminated food, especially fruit and vegetables, which can be avoided by thoroughly washing them before they are offered to hamsters. Treatment includes either antibiotics or [[euthanasia]].<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Rabies and lymphocytic choriomeningitis====
Hamsters are not natural hosts of the [[rabies]] or [[lymphocytic choriomeningitis]] viruses, so a hamster can become infected with them if exposed to infected saliva from a natural host, such as a [[skunk]], [[fox]], or [[bat]], although this is highly unlikely in captivity, as hamsters are indoor pets. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is transmittable to humans, with symptoms such as recurrent fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, rash, and arthritis.<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Demodectic mange====
[[Mange#Demodectic mange|Demodectic mange]] is a common external parasite problem caused by mites that reside within the hair follicles and certain glands of the skin, with symptoms including scaly skin and significant hair loss, especially over the back. This disease can be treated, but the patient may have an underlying problem, such as [[kidney disease]], for which there is no practical treatment or cure.<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Intestinal parasites====
Hamsters frequently harbor [[intestinal parasite]]s within their small intestines:
*[[Tapeworm]] is the most common, causes weight loss and can be transmitted to humans through the animal's feces.
*[[Pinworm]]s are less common and usually cause no signs at all besides itching of the anus and cannot be transmitted to humans.
Owners suspicious of either parasite problem will need to submit a fecal sample to a veterinarian for diagnosis. If there are eggs in the sample, treatment can be instituted by the veterinarian.<ref name="caringtogether"/>
====Eyeless whites====
[[Anophthalmic]] whites, more commonly known as "eyeless whites", are all white hamsters that are born without eyes. These hamsters are produced when two white-bellied hamsters carrying the anophthalmic gene are used for breeding. The eyes are usually non-existent, but are sometimes rudimentary, or not fully developed. The hamsters are typically born deaf as well, and the life span of eyeless whites is around 9-12 months.
Blind hamsters are perfectly capable of survival, but they can be a lot more nervous than normal hamsters. Since hamsters usually have poor eyesight to begin with, blindness is not a huge handicap, although the animals are more difficult to tame, so an owner must use extra care. They will feed normally and are very active, although they may seem to lose all comprehension of time, and seem not to know if it is day or night.<ref>http://hammysworld.com/index.php?p=eyeless</ref>
==Classification==
Taxonomists currently disagree about the most appropriate placement of the subfamily [[Cricetinae]] within the superfamily [[Muroidea]]. Some place it in a family [[Cricetidae]] that also includes [[vole]]s, [[lemming]]s, and [[New World rats and mice]]; others group all these into a large family called [[Muridae]].
*Subfamily '''Cricetinae'''
**Genus ''[[Allocricetulus]]''
***Species [[Mongolian Hamster|''A. curtatus'']] - Mongolian Hamster
***Species [[Kazakh Hamster|''A. eversmanni'']] - Kazakh Hamster, also called Eversmann's Hamster
**Genus ''[[Cansumys]]''
***Species [[Gansu Hamster|''C. canus'']] - Gansu Hamster
**Genus ''[[Cricetulus]]''
***Species [[Ladak Hamster|''C. alticola'']] - Ladak Hamster
***Species [[Chinese Striped Hamster|''C. barabensis'']], including "''C. pseudogriseus''" and "''C. obscurus''" - Chinese Striped Hamster, also called Chinese Hamster; Striped Dwarf Hamster
***Species [[Chinese Hamster|''C. griseus'']] - Chinese Hamster
***Species [[Tibetan Hamster|''C. kamensis'']] - Tibetan Hamster
***Species [[Long-tailed Hamster|''C. longicaudatus'']] - Long-tailed Hamster
***Species [[Armenian Hamster|''C. migratorius'']] - Armenian Hamster, also called Migratory Grey Hamster; Grey Hamster; Grey Dwarf Hamster; Migratory Hamster
***Species [[Sokolov's Hamster|''C. sokolovi'']] - Sokolov's Hamster
**Genus ''[[Cricetus]]''
***Species [[European Hamster|''C. cricetus'']] - European Hamster, also called Common Hamster or Black-Bellied Field Hamster
**Genus ''[[Mesocricetus]]'' - Golden Hamsters
***Species [[Golden Hamster|''M. auratus'']] - Syrian Hamster, also called the Golden hamster or Teddy Bear hamster)
***Species [[Turkish hamster|''M. brandti'']] - Turkish hamster, also called [[Johann Friedrich von Brandt|Brandt]]'s Hamster; Azerbaijani Hamster
***Species [[Romanian Hamster|''M. newtoni'']] - Romanian Hamster
***Species [[Georgian Hamster|''M. raddei'']] - Georgian Hamster, also called Ciscaucasian Hamster
**Genus ''[[Phodopus]]'' - Dwarf Hamsters
***Species [[Dwarf Campbell's Russian Hamster|''P. campbelli'']] - Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster
***Species [[Roborovski Hamster|''P. roborovskii'']] - Roborovski Hamster, sometimes known as the Mongolian Hamster, causing confusion with ''Allocricetulus curtatus''
***Species [[Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster|''P. sungorus'']] - Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster
**Genus ''[[Tscherskia]]''
***Species [[Greater Long-tailed Hamster|''T. triton'']] - Greater Long-tailed Hamster, also called Korean Hamster
===Relationships Among Hamsters===
Neumann et al. (2006) conducted a [[molecular phylogeny|molecular phylogenetic]] analysis of 12 of the above 17 species of hamster using [[DNA sequence]] from three [[gene]]s: [[12S rRNA]], [[cytochrome b]], and [[von Willebrand factor]]. They uncovered the following relationships:
====''Phodopus'' Group====
The genus ''Phodopus'' was found to represent the earliest split among hamsters. Their analysis included both species. The results of another study (Lebedev et al., 2003) may suggest that ''Cricetulus kamensis'' (and presumably the related ''C. alticola'') might belong to either this ''Phodopus'' group or hold a similar basal position.
====''Mesocricetus'' Group====
The genus ''Mesocricetus'' also form a [[clade]]. Their analysis included all four species, with ''M. auratus'' and ''M. raddei'' forming one subclade and ''M. brandti'' and ''M. newtoni'' another.
====Remaining Genera====
The remaining genera of hamsters formed a third major clade. Two of the three sampled species within ''Cricetulus'' represent the earliest split. This clade contains ''Cricetulus barabensis'' (and presumably the related ''C. sokolovi'') and ''Cricetulus longicaudatus''.
The remaining clade contains members of ''Allocricetulus'', ''Tscherskia'', ''Cricetus'', and ''Cricetulus migratorius''. ''Allocricetulus'' and ''Cricetus'' were [[sister taxa]]. ''Cricetulus migratorius'' was their next closest relative, and ''Tscherskia'' was basal.
==Similar animals==
Note that there are some rodents which are sometimes called "hamsters" that are not currently classified in the hamster subfamily Cricetinae. These include the Maned Hamster or Crested Hamster, which is really the [[Maned Rat]] (''Lophiomys imhausi''), although not nearly as marketable under that name. Others are the [[mouse-like hamster]]s (''Calomyscus'' spp.), and the [[white-tailed rat]] (''Mystromys albicaudatus'').
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Lebedev, V. S., N. V. Ivanova, N. K. Pavlova, and A. B. Poltoraus. 2003. Molecular phylogeny of the Palearctic hamsters. ''In'' Proceedings of the International Conference Devoted to the 90th Anniversary of Prof. I. M. Gromov on Systematics, Phylogeny and Paleontology of Small Mammals (A. Averianov and N. Abramson eds.). St. Petersburg.
*Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. ''In'' Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds.). Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
*Neumann, K., J. Michaux, V. Lebedev, N. Yigit, E. Colak, N. Ivanova, A. Poltoraus, A. Surov, G. Markov, S. Maak, S. Neumann, R. Gattermann. 2006. Molecular phylogeny of the Cricetinae subfamily based on the mitochondrial cytochrome ''b'' and 12S rRNA genes and the nuclear vWF gene. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, in press; Available online [[17 February]] [[2006]].
==External links==
{{commonscat|Cricetinae}}
{{wikispecies|Cricetinae}}
*[http://www.hamsters-uk.org/ National Hamster Council (UK)]
*[http://www.hamstercentral.com/ Hamster Central]
{{Hamster}}
{{Pet Species}}
[[Category:Hamsters]]
[[Category:German loanwords]]
[[da:Hamster]]
[[de:Hamster]]
[[es:Cricetinae]]
[[eo:Hamstro]]
[[fr:Hamster]]
[[gd:Hamstair]]
[[gl:Hamster]]
[[ko:햄스터]]
[[hr:Hrčci]]
[[io:Hamstro]]
[[id:Hamster]]
[[it:Cricetinae]]
[[la:Cricetus]]
[[hu:Közönséges hörcsög]]
[[nl:Hamsters]]
[[ja:ハムスター]]
[[no:Hamstre]]
[[nn:Hamster]]
[[pl:Chomik]]
[[pt:Hamster]]
[[ru:Хомяковые]]
[[simple:Hamster]]
[[sl:Hrčki]]
[[sr:Хрчак]]
[[fi:Hamsterit]]
[[sv:Hamstrar]]
[[tr:Altın hamster]]
[[yi:האמסטער]]
[[zh:仓鼠]]
| 