| The Russian Campbells Dwarf Hamster: Now and Then |
| The Campbells Dwarf Hamster, Phodopus Campbelli, is named after W.C. Campbell who discovered and captured the small vermin in Tuva, Mongolia in July of 1902. The Campbells also is known by many other names, such as: the Djungarian Hamster, Siberian Hamster, and the Hairy/Furry-footed hamster, due to the hair on their feet. The word "hamster" is descended from the German word "Hamstern," meaning "to hoard." This is probably due to their expandible cheek pouches. These pouches are used to store food while traveling. In the wild, hamsters live in deep burrows, sometimes three to four feet into the ground! At night, as hamsters are nocternal, the hamsters would travel up to a mile per night in search of food or bedding for their burrows. At night, the temperature can easily drop to five below zero while inside the burrow, the nest remains a comfortable 62 degrees. The burrows are often long with many interlooping tunnels and exits in case a speedy exit is needed! Campbells Dwarfs are social animals and often live in same or mixed sex colonies. As the hamsters age, dominance is formed and alpha roles are established. If a trespassing hamster should wind up on the territory of a hamster colony, it is sure to have a fight on its hands. Although social, hamsters must be introduced at a young age, or born into the colony to be excepted at maturity without a fight. Many times, hamster colonies will be found in dens shared by other animals such as Pikas, or members of the rabbit family. In 1963, the Campbells was imported to London by the Holloway College and the London Zoological Society. By 1968, they were breeding successfully in captivity. In 1973, a pair of Campbells were released from the London Zoo by a member of the UK Hamster Fancy, and later recieved another group in 1976. In the late 1970's, a colony of Campbells in the former Soviet Union an unusual color turned up. Until this point, the only color was the normal agouti, a brown hamster with a creamy under side, three cream scallops on each side, and with a black dorsal stripe. This particular hamster was orange, and had red eyes. Shortly after, the mutation was named "Argente." In 1981, the UK recieved a nice surprise. A hamster was born with slightly longer hair with a sleek, oily appearance. This first coat mutation later came to be known as the "Satin." In the late 1980's, a colony in Hungary produced the first "Albino." It wasn't until the early 1990's that the Campbells became a popular pet, and very few colors were available on the market. With the addition of the "Opal" mutation, similar to a saphire winter white, scientists everywhere begin to study these creatures more and one by one, the colors arose! |
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