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Mesocricetus brandti (TURKISH
HAMSTER)
Mesocricetus
brandti
(Nehring, 1898), (Palestine - Caucasus),
Taxonomy ID: 10037
Preferred common name: Turkish hamster
Rank: species
Genetic code: Translation
table 1 (Standard) (Another
Web Site)
Mitochondrial genetic code: Translation
table 2 (Another Web Site)
Other names:
Brandt's
hamster [common name],
Azerbajaini hamster [common name]
Other Languages:
"What the Heck is a
Turkish Hamster?"
Well from what we could find, these are the main differences:
A Syrian Hamster's (Mesocricetus
auratus) natural habitats are Asia Minor, Syria, Caucasus, and
Kurdistan.
A Turkish Hamster's (Mesocricetus brandti) natural habitats are basically
Turkey, which is next door to Syria. M.
brandti are larger than Syrian’s (M.
auratus). They can be
fairly aggressive, compared to Syrian’s (M.
auratus). They're
nocturnal like other Mesocricetus.
In the wild, the Turkish Hamster only mates at times of the year that are
suitable. Generally there is no
mating from November to April, or the hibernation period.
Turkish hamsters may hibernate up to 10 months per year based on light
and temperature.
Mesocricetus brandti is genetically
different, according to scientists from M.
auratus. This is due to
Chromosomal polymorphism in wild M. brandti due to terrain differences
throughout Turkey, Israel, Syria, N Iraq, NW Iran, and over the Caucasus.
All of the Turkish (Azerbaijani) hamsters in
the US are descended from small populations imported for research in the 60's
and 70's. In Central Turkey in
1965, 13 animals were trapped and imported to the USA.
In 1971, 29 more animals were trapped and imported to the USA.
These animals were the basis of most research into Mesocricetus brandti
in the USA. It was from this one
colony in the US from which various research facilities got their animals.
Since then by selectively breeding golden hamsters, researchers were able to
develop a group of animals from this species (M.
auratus) that hibernated. Thus Mesocricetus brandti are no longer needed for research,
as golden hamsters are now used.
Turkish hamsters are fossorial (burrowing), and do not need free sanding water
in the wild, but need it if fed in captivity.
Turkish hamsters in the wild avoid wooded and brushy areas, humidity and
dampness, and have slower locomotion than goldens.
M. brandti likes dry, rocky steppes, sometimes near cultivated fields, found
up to 2800m elevations but not above, while the Ladek Hamster (cricetulus
alticola) is found at 13,500ft. They
are mostly nocturnal and "relatively fearless" and aggressive. If given natural conditions, they will burrow and will not be
aboveground in light. In wild, they
store seeds and grasses in the burrow, and in internal cheek pouches.
In the research facility, the recommended foods are chow/lab blocks, oats, and
apple. In research conditions they
are reported to have experienced "wet tail" diarrhea and osteomalacia
(possibly due to nutritional deficit caused by wet tail). Tetracycline was used
and controlled the wet tail, with no reoccurrence.
Occasionally there was malocclusion. Incisor growth 1cm/month is
reported. The youngest mother was 50 days when her litter was born. At the age
of 7-8 weeks, the young can reproduce. Peak
fecundity is at 1 year. Under
normal conditions, Turkish hamsters can't breed in Nov-March.
Matings usually peak in May. Turkish hamsters usually live about 2.5
years. While the oldest lived to almost 4 years of age. Turkish hamsters get
scruffy after 2 years. In cold-dark conditions, some may hibernate up to 10 months.
There is no obvious pre-hibernation fattening.
Older Turkish hamsters lose weight first 1-2 weeks in cold, but young of
the year can maintain or gain weight.
We got this information from Dr. Rebecca Burton who kept a Mesocricetus brandti
colony and was studying hibernation in rodents.
She recommends the following article / study which details the species:
Lyman,Charles P; O'Brien,Regina C (1977): A
laboratory study of the Turkish hamster Mesocricetus brandti. Breviora, Museum
of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA 442, 1-27.
Pictures :
These pictures are on other websites
http://depts.alverno.edu/NSMT/burton.htm
http://www.aya.or.jp/~sczoo/cards/mammal/buranto.html
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