Mesocricetus auratus
Noun A small, typically golden-brown rodent (Mesocricetus auratus) of the subfamily Cricetinae, commonly kept as a domestic pet. It is characterized by a stout body, short tail, and cheek pouches.
The term mesocricetus auratus is the scientific (Latin) name for the species. In everyday English, this animal is almost exclusively called a Syrian hamster or golden hamster. * The laboratory study used Mesocricetus auratus as a model organism. * Mesocricetus auratus is one of the most popular hamster species kept as a pet.
- In biological taxonomy, Mesocricetus auratus belongs to the family Cricetidae.
- The first scientific description of Mesocricetus auratus was published in the 19th century.
- While many people simply say "hamster," the pet in the cage is specifically a Mesocricetus auratus.
The term is primarily used in formal, academic, or scientific contexts such as zoology, veterinary science, and laboratory research. * The research paper compared the circadian rhythms of Mesocricetus auratus and Phodopus sungorus (the Djungarian hamster).
- Syrian hamster: The common name for .
- Golden hamster: Another common name, referring to the wild-type coloration.
- Hamster: The general term for rodents in the subfamily Cricetinae, which includes and other genera like (dwarf hamsters).
- Cricetidae: The biological family that includes hamsters, voles, lemmings, and New World rats and mice.
- Syrian hamster
- Golden hamster
This term has only one specific meaning: it refers to a single, distinct species of hamster. It does not refer to other hamster species, such as dwarf hamsters (Phodopus species) or the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus).
- small light-colored hamster often kept as a pet