Mesocricetus newtoni

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Theria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Ordo: Rodentia
Subordo: Myomorpha
Superfamilia: Muroidea
Familia: Cricetidae
Subfamilia: Cricetinae
Genus: Mesocricetus
Species: Mesocricetus newtoni

Name

Mesocricetus newtoni (Nehring, 1898)

Type Locality: Schluma, Bulgaria

References

* Mesocricetus newtoni in Mammal Species of the World.
Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 2 Volume Set edited by Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder
* IUCN link: Mesocricetus newtoni (Nehring, 1898) (Near Threatened)

Vernacular names
English: Romanian Hamster
Español: Hámster Rumano
Français: Hamster De Newton

The Romanian hamster or Dobrudja hamster (Mesocricetus newtoni) is a species of rodent in the Cricetidae family. It is found in Bulgaria and Romania.

Description

The Romanian Hamster has brown dorsal (back) fur and a white underside. The top of the head has a dark stripe that extends to the neck. The dark cheek stripes extend back to the shoulder. Its head-body length is up to 180 mm and its weight ranges from 80 to 115 g. Its dental formula is 1/1, 0/0, 0/0, 3/3.[2]

Behavior

The Romanian hamster is a nocturnal or crepuscular species. It lives solitarily in a complex burrow system. It eats seeds, legumes, rooted vegetables, and grasses, but also insects. It transports its food with its elastic cheek pouches to the food chambers. They reach sexual maturity when 56-70 days old and breed through early April to August. The common hamster has a gestation of 15 days, gives birth to a litter of 1–12 and weans after three weeks of birth. It communicates by squeaking or with ultra-sound. Both sexes flank mark by rubbing their glands against objects.[2]

References

1. ^ Coroiu, I. & Vohralík, V. (2008). Mesocricetus newtoni. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 14 Jule 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of near threatened.
2. ^ a b MacDonald, David; Priscilla Barret (1993). Mammals of Britain & Europe. 1. London: HarperCollins. pp. 238–239. ISBN 0002197790.

* Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. Pp. 894-1531 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.