List of cricetines

Cricetinae is a subfamily of mammals in the rodent family Cricetidae, which in turn is part of the Myomorpha suborder in the order Rodentia. Members of this subfamily are called cricetines or hamsters. They are found in Europe and Asia, primarily in shrublands, grasslands, and deserts, though some species can be found in forests and wetlands. They range in size from the Roborovski dwarf hamster, at 7 cm (3 in) plus a 0.5 cm (0.2 in) tail, to the European hamster, at 32 cm (13 in) plus a 7 cm (3 in) tail. Cricetines generally eat shoots and seeds, though some also eat a variety of other vegetation, insects, and small vertebrates. No cricetines have population estimates, but the golden hamster is categorized as endangered, while the European hamster is categorized as critically endangered. Several hamster species, particularly the golden hamster, Chinese striped hamster, and dwarf hamsters have been domesticated as pets.[1]

The eighteen extant species of Cricetinae are divided into seven genera, ranging in size from one to six species. Several extinct prehistoric cricetine species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization is not fixed.[2]

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories
Conservation status
 EX Extinct (0 species)
 EW Extinct in the wild (0 species)
 CR Critically endangered (1 species)
 EN Endangered (1 species)
 VU Vulnerable (1 species)
 NT Near threatened (1 species)
 LC Least concern (14 species)

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the cricetine's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification

Cricetinae is a subfamily of the rodent family Cricetidae consisting of eighteen extant species in seven genera. These genera range in size from one to six species. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.

Subfamily Cricetinae

  • Genus Allocricetulus (Mongolian hamsters): two species
  • Genus Cansumys (Gansu hamster): one species
  • Genus Cricetulus (ratlike hamsters): six species
  • Genus Cricetus (European hamster): one species
  • Genus Mesocricetus (golden hamsters): four species
  • Genus Phodopus (dwarf hamsters): three species
  • Genus Tscherskia (Greater long-tailed hamster): one species
Cricetinae[3][4]

Cricetines

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.[5]

Genus Allocricetulus – Argiropulo, 1932 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Eversmann's hamster A. eversmanni
(Brandt, 1859) 		Central Asia Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail[6]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[7]

Diet: Grains, beans, lentils, roots, and plant material, as well as insects and frogs[8] 		 LC 


Unknown [7]

Mongolian hamster A. curtatus
(Allen, 1925) 		East-central Asia Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Shrubland[10]

Diet: Grains, beans, lentils, roots, and plant material, as well as insects and frogs[8] 		 LC 


Unknown [10]

Genus Cansumys – Allen, 1928 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Gansu hamster C. canus
Allen, 1928 		Central China Size: 12–14 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 9–11 cm (4 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Forest[11]

Diet: Leaves and grasses[11] 		 LC 


Unknown [11]

Genus Cricetulus – A. Milne-Edwards, 1867 – six species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Chinese striped hamster

 C. barabensis
(Pallas, 1773) 		Central and eastern Asia Size: 7–13 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[6]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[12]

Diet: Shoots and seeds[13] 		 LC 


Unknown [12]

Grey dwarf hamster

 C. migratorius
(Pallas, 1773) 		Asia and eastern Europe Size: 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[6]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland, and desert[14]

Diet: Shoots, seeds, and insects[13] 		 LC 


Unknown [14]

Kam dwarf hamster C. kamensis
Satunin, 1903 		Central China Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 3–7 cm (1–3 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Grassland and inland wetlands[15]

Diet: Shoots and seeds[13] 		 LC 


Unknown [15]

Long-tailed dwarf hamster C. longicaudatus
(A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) 		Central Asia
 Size: 8–14 cm (3–6 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail[6]

Habitat: Rocky areas[16]

Diet: Shoots and seeds[13] 		 LC 


Unknown [16]

Sokolov's dwarf hamster C. sokolovi
Orlov & Malygin, 1988 		Mongolia and northern China Size: 7–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[6]

Habitat: Shrubland and desert[17]

Diet: Shoots and seeds[13] 		 LC 


Unknown [17]

Tibetan dwarf hamster C. alticola
Thomas, 1917 		Western China Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[18]

Diet: Shoots and seeds[13] 		 LC 


Unknown [18]

Genus Cricetus – Leske, 1779 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
European hamster

 C. cricetus
(Linnaeus, 1758) 		Europe and western and central Asia
 Size: 16–32 cm (6–13 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail[6]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[19]

Diet: Grains, beans, lentils, roots, and plant material, as well as insects and frogs[20] 		 CR 


Unknown [19]

Genus Mesocricetus – Nehring, 1898 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Ciscaucasian hamster M. raddei
(Nehring, 1894) 		Southwestern Russia Size: 14–22 cm (6–9 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Grassland[21]

Diet: Omnivorous, including a variety of vegetation, seeds, fruit, insects, and small vertebrates[22] 		 LC 


Unknown [21]

Golden hamster

 M. auratus
(Waterhouse, 1839) 		Turkey and Syria Size: 12–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Grassland[23]

Diet: Omnivorous, including a variety of vegetation, seeds, fruit, insects, and small vertebrates[22] 		 EN 


Unknown [23]

Romanian hamster

 M. newtoni
(Nehring, 1898) 		Bulgaria and Romania Size: 13–16 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[24]

Diet: Omnivorous, including a variety of vegetation, seeds, fruit, insects, and small vertebrates[22] 		 VU 


Unknown [24]

Turkish hamster

 M. brandti
(Nehring, 1898) 		Western Asia Size: 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[25]

Diet: Omnivorous, including a variety of vegetation, seeds, fruit, insects, and small vertebrates[22] 		 NT 


Unknown [25]

Genus Phodopus – Miller, 1910 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Campbell's dwarf hamster

 P. campbelli
(Thomas, 1905) 		East-central Asia
 Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Shrubland and desert[26]

Diet: Seeds and plant material[27] 		 LC 


Unknown [26]

Roborovski dwarf hamster

 P. roborovskii
(Satunin, 1903) 		East-central Asia
 Size: 7–8 cm (3 in) long, plus 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Desert and shrubland[28]

Diet: Seeds and plant material[27] 		 LC 


Unknown [28]

Winter white dwarf hamster

 P. sungorus
(Pallas, 1773) 		Kazakhstan and southern Russia
 Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 0.5–1.5 cm (0.2–0.6 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Shrubland and desert[29]

Diet: Seeds and plant material[27] 		 LC 


Unknown [29]

Genus Tscherskia – Ogniov, 1914 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Greater long-tailed hamster

 T. triton
(De Winton, 1899) 		Eastern Asia Size: 14–22 cm (6–9 in) long, plus 6–11 cm (2–4 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Inland wetlands[30]

Diet: Seeds as well as shoots[13] 		 LC 


Unknown [30]

References

  1. ^ Cole, Gretchen (February 21, 2022). "The Five Most Popular Hamster Breeds". PetMD. Chewy. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  2. ^ "Subfamily Cricetinae Fischer von Waldheim 1817 (rodent)". Paleobiology Database. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  3. ^ Ivanova, N. G.; Kartavtseva, I. V.; Stefanova, V. N.; Ostromyshenskii, D. I.; Podgornaya, O. I. (2022). "Tandem Repeat Diversity in Two Closely Related Hamster Species—The Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus) and Striped Hamster (Cricetulus barabensis)". Biomedicines. 10 (4): 925. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10040925. PMC 9025346.
  4. ^ Romanenko, S. A.; Volobouev, V. T.; Perelman, P. L.; Lebedev, V. S.; Serdukova, N. A.; Trifonov, V. A.; Biltueva, L. S.; Nie, W.; O'Brien, P. C. M.; Bulatova, N. Sh.; Ferguson-Smith, M. A.; Yang, F.; Graphodatsky, A. S. (2007). "Karyotype evolution and phylogenetic relationships of hamsters (Cricetidae, Muroidea, Rodentia) inferred from chromosomal painting and banding comparison". Chromosome Research: 283–297. doi:10.1007/s10577-007-1124-3.
  5. ^ Wilson; Reeder, pp. 1039-1045
  6. ^ a b c d e f Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 221
  7. ^ a b Tsytsulina, K.; Formozov, N.; Sheftel, B. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Allocricetulus eversmanni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T875A115053494. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T875A22334164.en.
  8. ^ a b Nowak, p. 1421
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 220
  10. ^ a b Batsaikhan, N.; Avirmed, D.; Tinnin, D. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Allocricetulus curtatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T42640A115198489. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T42640A22334067.en.
  11. ^ a b c Smith, A. T. (2016). "Cansumys canus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T3760A22379681. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3760A22379681.en.
  12. ^ a b Batsaikhan, N.; Tinnin, D.; Shar, S.; Avirmed, D.; Usukhjargal, D. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Cricetulus barabensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5524A115072992. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5524A22391002.en.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Nowak, p. 1422
  14. ^ a b Kryštufek, B.; Bukhnikashvili, A.; Sozen, M.; Isfendiyaroglu, S. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Cricetulus migratorius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5528A115073390. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5528A22391440.en.
  15. ^ a b Smith, A. T. (2016). "Cricetulus kamensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5525A22391339. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T5525A22391339.en.
  16. ^ a b Batsaikhan, A.; Tinnin, D.; Lhagvasuren, B.; Sukhchuluun, G. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Cricetulus longicaudatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5526A115073116. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5526A22391246.en.
  17. ^ a b Batsaikhan, N.; Smith, A. T. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Cricetulus sokolovi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5527A115073247. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5527A22391689.en.
  18. ^ a b Molur, S. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Cricetulus alticola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5523A115072870. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5523A22391166.en.
  19. ^ a b Banaszek, A.; Bogomolov, P.; Feoktistova, N.; La Haye, M.; Monecke, S.; Reiners, T. E.; Rusin, M.; Surov, A.; Weinhold, U.; Ziomek, J. (2020). "Cricetus cricetus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T5529A111875852. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T5529A111875852.en.
  20. ^ Nowak, p. 1420
  21. ^ a b Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Mesocricetus raddei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T13222A115111279. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T13222A22390311.en.
  22. ^ a b c d Nowak, p. 1423
  23. ^ a b Kennerley, R.; Middleton, K. (2022). "Mesocricetus auratus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022 e.T13219A107411865. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T13219A107411865.en.
  24. ^ a b Nedyalkov, N.; Rusin, M. (2024). "Mesocricetus newtoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T13221A90688752. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T13221A90688752.en.
  25. ^ a b Yigit, N.; Kennerley, R. (2024). "Mesocricetus brandti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T13220A22390158. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T13220A22390158.en.
  26. ^ a b Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Phodopus campbelli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T17035A115139470. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T17035A22354039.en.
  27. ^ a b c Nowak, p. 1419
  28. ^ a b Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Phodopus roborovskii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T17036A115139633. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T17036A22353945.en.
  29. ^ a b Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Phodopus sungorus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T17037A115139908. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T17037A22354157.en.
  30. ^ a b Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Tscherskia triton". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22432A115166449. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22432A22384113.en.

Sources

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