About Cricetus cricetus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The European hamster, with the scientific name Cricetus cricetus (Linnaeus, 1758), has brown fur on its back marked with white patches, and black fur on its chest and belly. Its tail is short and covered in fur. It is larger than the commonly kept pet Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) and dwarf hamsters (Phodopus spp.), and is the largest known hamster species. Adult European hamsters weigh between 220 and 460 g (7.8–16.2 oz), with a body length of 20 to 35 cm (8–14 in) and a tail length of 4 to 6 cm (1.6–2.4 in). This species has a dental formula of 1.0.0.3 1.0.0.3. When kept in captivity, the European hamster has an unusually long lifespan for a rodent, reaching up to eight years. In terms of distribution and habitat, the European hamaster most commonly lives on low-lying farmland with soft loam or loess soils, though it can also live in meadows, gardens, and hedgerows. Its range extends from Belgium and Alsace in the west, to Russia in the east, and Bulgaria in the south. A significant population of this species lives in Vienna Central Cemetery in Austria.
