Mouse-like hamster

see text Mouse-like hamsters are a group of small rodents 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 hamsters, but represent an early split from the rest of the mouse-like rodents. They were once thought to be hamsters based on the shape of their molars, but they lack the cheek pouches, sebaceous flank glands, and short tail of the true hamsters. The closest relatives of mouse-like hamsters may be the fossil Cricetodontidae . Because of their seemingly early break from the rest of the mouse-like rodents, mouse-like hamsters have been placed in a family of their own, Calomyscidae, and have been referred to as living fossils.

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. There are almost certainly new species of mouse-like hamster yet to be described from places like Afghanistan and Iran.

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. firiusaensis. They are only available from dedicated breeders, not pet shops, so they are usually limited to serious rodent fans.

Species

• Calomyscus bailwardi - Zagros mouse-like hamster from Iran
  • Subspecies Calomyscus bailwardi grandis - Giant mouse-like hamster from near Teheran
• Calomyscus baluchi - Balochistan mouse-like hamster from Pakistan and Afghanistan
  • Subspecies Calomyscus baluchi mustersi Kabol mouse-like hamster from near Kabol
• Calomyscus firiusaensis Elburz mouse-like hamster from northeastern Iran and southern Turkmenistan
• Calomyscus hotsoni Makran mouse-like hamster from southern Pakistan
• Calomyscus mystax Turkmen mouse-like hamster from Turkmenistan
  • Subspecies Calomyscus mystax zykovi Zykov's mouse-like hamster from southeastern Turkmenistan
• Calomyscus tsolovi Syrian mouse-like hamster from Syria
• Calomyscus urartensis Azeri mouse-like hamster from Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran

References

• Jansa, S. A. and M. Weksler. Phylogeny of muroid rodents: 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 mammals: molecular phylogeny of muroid rodents. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 17:280-293.

• Steppan, S. J., R. A. Adkins, and J. Anderson. 2004. Phylogeny and divergence date estimates of rapid radiations in muroid rodents based on multiple nuclear genes. Systematic Biology, 53:533-553.