Mongolian Hamster

About this species

Habitat

Arid and semiarid grassland, steppe, semi-desert, farmland, and buildings

Range

Central and eastern Asia, including Mongolia

The Mongolian hamster is a compact Central Asian hamster with the blunt muzzle, small rounded ears, short limbs, and expandable cheek pouches typical of its family. The opened account places it within the Allocricetulus group rather than among the longer-tailed Cricetulus hamsters. Its coat is adapted to dry open country, but the source did not provide dependable species-level measurements or a detailed colour diagnosis. Identification in Mongolia therefore needs close examination rather than an assumption based only on size or a hamster-like outline. (Wikipedia, Mongolian hamster account)

Across its Asian range this hamster occupies dry grassland, steppe, semi-desert, cultivated land, and occasionally buildings. It digs a burrow as shelter, nesting space, and a store for gathered food, and forages chiefly after dark. Seeds form an important part of the diet. The Mammal Diversity Database country record confirms Mongolia, while the biological account supports the broader habitat and behaviour; neither opened source names a dependable Mongolian watching locality, so none is proposed. (Wikipedia, Mongolian hamster account; Mammal Diversity Database, Mongolia country list)

Description: Wildlife of Mongolia guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)