Hamster Facts: Diet, Habits & Types of Hamsters

By Alina Bradford - Live Science Contributor June 11, 2014

Hamsters are small rodents that are commonly kept as house pets. They are distinguishable from
other rodents due to their short tails, stubby legs and small ears. Hamsters have many different
colors, including black, grey, brown, white, yellow, red or a mixture of several colors.
Size
With 24 species of hamsters, these animals come in a wide range of sizes. The European breed can
grow as large as 13.4 inches (34 centimeters) long and are some of the biggest varieties of hamsters.
The dwarf hamster lives up to its name. These tiny hamsters grow to around 2 to 4 inches (5.5 to 10.5
cm) long. The most common pet hamster, the Syrian hamster, also known as the teddy bear hamster
or golden hamster, usually grows to about 6 inches (15.24 cm) long.
Hamster habitat
The first hamsters were discovered in Syria, though they also live in Greece, Romania, Belgium and
northern China. In the wild, they like to live in warm, dry areas, like steppes, sand dunes and the
edges of deserts.
Hamsters were brought to the United States in 1936 from Syria, according to the Louisiana Veterinary
Medical Association. They were some of the first domesticated hamsters.