Mesocricetus Explained

Mesocricetus is a genus of Old World hamsters, including the Syrian or golden hamster, the first hamster to be introduced as a domestic pet, and still the most popular species of hamster for that purpose.

Recent research has shown that, unlike almost all other land mammals studied, all species of this genus lack the capacity for color vision.^[1]

Species

• Mesocricetus auratus: Golden hamster or Syrian hamster
• Mesocricetus brandti: Turkish hamster or Brandt's hamster
• Mesocricetus newtoni: Romanian hamster or Dobrudja hamster
• Mesocricetus raddei: Ciscaucasian hamster

References

• http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/mammalia/rodentia/cricetidae/mesocricetus/
• Williams . G. A. . Jacobs . G. H. . 2008 . Absence of functional short-wavelength sensitive cone pigments in hamsters (Mesocricetus) . Journal of Comparative Physiology A . 10.1007/s00359-008-0316-4 .

Notes and References

1. 10.1007/s00359-008-0316-4 . 194 . Absence of functional short-wavelength sensitive cone pigments in hamsters (Mesocricetus) . 2008 . Journal of Comparative Physiology A . 429–439 . Williams . Gary A..