Mesocricetus

Mesocricetus is a group of hamsters that live in the Old World, which includes parts of Europe and Asia. The most well-known member of this group is the Syrian or golden hamster. It was the first hamster to become a popular pet in homes. Today, it is still one of the most common hamsters that people keep as pets.

Interesting research has shown something special about these hamsters. Unlike almost all other land animals that have been studied, every species in the Mesocricetus group cannot see colors. They see the world in a different way than many other animals do.

## Species

The genus *Mesocricetus* includes several types of hamsters. The most well-known is the *Mesocricetus auratus* or **[Golden hamster](/wiki/Golden_hamster)**, also called the Syrian hamster. This species was the first hamster to become a popular pet. Other species in this group include the *Mesocricetus brandti* or **[Turkish hamster](/wiki/Turkish_hamster)**, the *Mesocricetus newtoni* or **[Romanian hamster](/wiki/Romanian_hamster)**, and the *Mesocricetus raddei* or **[Ciscaucasian hamster](/wiki/Ciscaucasian_hamster)**. There is also an extinct species called *Mesocricetus rathgeberi*, known from old bones found on [Armathia](/wiki/Armathia) Island in [Greece](/wiki/Greece).