Mouse-like hamster
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{{Taxobox
| name = Mouse-like Hamsters
| fossil_range = Late [[Miocene]] - Recent
| image = Calo10.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Calomyscus''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| ordo = [[Rodent]]ia
| superfamilia = [[Muroidea]]
| familia = '''Calomyscidae'''
| familia_authority = Vorontsov & Potapova, 1979
| genus = '''''Calomyscus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Oldfield Thomas|Thomas]], 1905
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
''[[Calomyscus bailwardi]]''<br>
''[[Calomyscus baluchi]]''<BR>
''[[Calomyscus elburzensis]]''<BR>
''[[Calomyscus grandis]]''<BR>
''[[Calomyscus hotsoni]]''<BR>
''[[Calomyscus mystax]]''<BR>
''[[Calomyscus tsolovi]]''<BR>
''[[Calomyscus urartensis]]''
}}
[[image:Calo03.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]
[[image:Calo13.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Mouse-like hamster using its tail for balance while standing on a branch (a feat difficult for hamsters).]]
'''Mouse-like hamsters''' are a group of small [[rodent]]s found in [[Syria]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Iran]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Afghanistan]], and [[Pakistan]]. They are found in rocky outcrops and semi-mountainous area in desert regions.
The mouse-like hamsters are not true [[hamster]]s, but represent an early split from the rest of the [[Muroidea|mouse-like rodents]]. They were once thought to be [[hamster]]s based on the shape of their molars, but they lack the cheek pouches, sebaceous flank glands, and short tail of the true [[hamster]]s. The closest relatives of mouse-like hamsters may be the fossil [[Cricetodontidae]]. Because of their seemingly early break from the rest of the [[Muroidea|mouse-like rodents]], mouse-like hamsters have been placed in a family of their own, '''Calomyscidae''', and have been referred to as [[living fossil]]s.
All members of this [[genus]] were once considered part of the same [[species]], ''[[Calomyscus bailwardi]]'', but they are now referred to as separate [[species]] due to major differences in [[chromosome]] number, [[skull]] measurements, and other features.
In [[Europe]], a species of ''Calomyscus'' is available as a [[pet]]. They are labelled ''Calomyscus bailwardi mystax'' or ''Calomyscus bailwardi'', and probably represent either ''C. mystax'' or ''C. elburzensis''. They are only available from dedicated breeders, not pet shops, so they are usually limited to serious rodent fans.
Mouse-like hamsters hold the record for [[maximum life span]] among muroid rodents (Volf, 2003). They have been recorded as living 9 years, 3 months and 18 days in captivity. They regularly live over 4 years in captivity. The next closest lifespan among muroids is 7 years, 8 months among the better studied [[Canyon Mouse]], ''[[Peromyscus crinitus]]''. This and their low reproductive output suggests that mouse-like hamsters are more similar in life-history traits to much larger rodents such as [[Sciuridae|sciurids]] and [[Hystricognathi|hystricognaths]] who can both live over 10 years in captivity.
==Species==
*[[Zagros Mountains Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus bailwardi'')
*[[Baluchi Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus baluchi'')
*[[Goodman's Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus elburzensis'')
**[[Subspecies]] [[Zykov's Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus elburzensis zykovi'')
*[[Noble Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus grandis'')
*[[Hotson's Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus hotsoni'')
*[[Great Balkhan Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus mystax'')
*[[Tsolov's Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus tsolovi'')
*[[Urar Mouse-like Hamster]] (''Calomyscus urartensis'')
==References==
*Jansa, S. A. and M. Weksler. 2004. [[Phylogeny]] of [[Muroidea|muroid]] [[rodent]]s: relationships within and among major lineages as determined by IRBP [[gene]] sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 31:256-276.
*Michaux, J., A. Reyes, and F. Catzeflis. 2001. Evolutionary history of the most speciose [[mammal]]s: molecular [[phylogeny]] of [[Muroidea|muroid]] [[rodent]]s. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 17:280-293.
*Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. Pp. 894-1531 ''in'' Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
*Steppan, S. J., R. A. Adkins, and J. Anderson. 2004. [[Phylogeny]] and [[divergence date]] estimates of rapid radiations in [[Muroidea|muroid]] [[rodent]]s based on multiple nuclear [[genes]]. Systematic Biology, 53:533-553.
*Volf, J. 2003. Rekord dlouhovekosti kreckovitych savcu (Cricetidae). Gazella 30:69-72.
== External links ==
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Calomyscus_bailwardi.html Animal Diversity Web: Detailed description]
* [http://www.rodent-info.net/turkmenischer_maushamster_fotos.htm Photos of the Turkmen Mouse-like hamster (German page)]
{{Rodents}}
{{Calomyscidae nav}}
[[Category:Muroid rodents]]
[[Category:Mouse-like hamsters|*]]
[[Category:Mammals of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Fauna of Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Fauna of Turkmenistan]]
[[da:Musehamstere]]
[[de:Maushamster]]
[[fr:Calomyscus]]
[[lt:Peliniai žiurkėnukai]]
[[hu:Calomyscinae]]
[[nl:Muishamsters]]
[[pl:Calomyscus]]
[[ru:Мышевидные хомячки]]
[[simple:Mouse-like hamsters]]
[[sv:Mushamstrar]]