Cricetulus longicaudatus Milne-Edwards 1867
- Dataset
- Cricetidae
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Chordata
- class
- Mammalia
- order
- Rodentia
- family
- Cricetidae
- genus
- Cricetulus
- species
- Cricetulus longicaudatus
activity
Activity patterns. The Long-tailed Dwarf Hamster is nocturnal and does not hibernate.
biology_ecology
Habitat. Arid areas with shrubby slopes, dry forests, mountain steppes, and foothills and southern slopes of mountains to elevations of ¢. 1900 m. The Long-tailed Dwarf Hamster is particularly abundant in piedmont semi-desert, a type of desert grassland with mixed shrubs and succulent plants, and savanna with scattered xeromorphic trees.
biology_ecology
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Long-tailed Dwarf Hamster occupies shallow, simple burrows that extend horizontally beneath the ground’s surface, often constructed under rocks. Abandoned burrows of other small mammals are sometimes used, and side passages are created leading to grass-lined nest chambers.
breeding
Breeding. Reproduction occurs in March — September, and a female produces at least two litters in a year. Litters have 4 - 9 young. Life span is up to two years.
conservation
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Threats to the Long-tailed Dwarf Hamster are degradation of habitats caused by increasing numbers of grazing livestock and droughts.
description
Descriptive notes. Head-body 80 - 135 mm, tail 35 - 48 mm, ear 15 - 20 mm, hindfoot 15 - 21 mm; weight 15 - 50 g. Dorsal pelage of the Long-tailed Dwarf Hamster is sandy yellow or dark brownish gray; ventral pelage grayish white. Individual hairs have dark bases and white tips. Distinct line on sides of body separates dorsal and ventral colors. Ears are dark with white rims. Upper surfaces of feet are white. Tail is ¢. 30 % of headbody length, dark above and white below. Skull is low, and snout is narrow and long. There is no supraorbital ridge. Incisive foramina is long, reaching beyond anterior margin offirst upper molar. Auditory bullae are large and round. Karyotype is 2 n = 24.
discussion
Cricetulus longicaudatus is the only species in the longicaudatus group. Three subspecies recognized.
food_feeding
Food and Feeding. The Long-tailed Dwarf Hamster eats plant material, mainly seeds, and insects. In late summer, it gathers and stores plants in “ hay piles ” for winter use.
synonymic_list
Subspecies and Distribution. C. Ll longicaudatus Milne-Edwards, 1867 — extreme E Kazakhastan, Russia (Tuva and Transbaikalia), Mongolia, and N & C China (N & NW Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia [= Nei Mongol], E Qinghai, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, N Henan, and NW Sichuan). C. l. chiumalaiensisWangSung & ZhengChanglin, 1973 — SCChina (SQinghaiandextremeNETibet [= Xizang]). C. l. kozhantschikovi Vinogradov, 1927 — SE Krasnoyarsk Krai in SE Siberia (Russia).
Name
- Synonyms
- Cricetus (Cricetulus) longicaudatus Milne-Edwards 1867
- Homonyms
- Cricetulus longicaudatus Milne-Edwards 1867
- Common names
- Hamster a longue queue in 法文
- Hamster enano de cola larga in language.
- Langschwanz-Zwerghamster in 德語
- Long-tailed Dwarf Hamster in 英文