Wildlifeof India
Gray Hamster
Rats, Mice, Voles & Porcupines
Photo: (c) Roman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Nothocricetulus migratorius
Basic stats
Diet
Roots, green parts of plants and seeds; also insects
Habitat
Mostly above 1,000m; up to 4,300m in the Pamirs
Range
Eastern Europe through the Middle East and Central Asia to Mongolia and western China
Litter size
Usually 6–7; 1–13
Size
Head and body 85–120mm; tail about a third as long
Weight
31–58g
The grey dwarf hamster is sandy brownish grey above with whitish underparts, large ears and a flattened skull. Head and body length is 85–120 mm, with a well-furred tail about a third as long, and weight is 31–58 g. It is active at dusk and at night. Its range runs from Eastern Europe through the Middle East and Central Asia to Mongolia and western China, and it mostly lives above 1,000 m, up to 4,300 m in the Pamirs (Wikipedia, general species account).
It digs a deep burrow complex that may extend 150 cm underground, with side passages, several nesting areas and chambers for storing winter food. It forages for roots, the green parts of plants and seeds, and eats insects. It does not hibernate and breeds in summer, with up to three litters a year, usually of six or seven. The cached account does not list India in the range, so its occurrence here is unconfirmed (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Gray Hamster eat?
- Roots, green parts of plants and seeds; also insects
- What habitat does the Gray Hamster live in?
- Mostly above 1,000m; up to 4,300m in the Pamirs
- Where is the Gray Hamster found?
- Eastern Europe through the Middle East and Central Asia to Mongolia and western China
- What is the litter size of the Gray Hamster?
- Usually 6–7; 1–13
- How big is the Gray Hamster?
- Head and body 85–120mm; tail about a third as long
- How much does the Gray Hamster weigh?
- 31–58g