Golden Hamster – Mesocricetus auratus

Mesocricetus auratusWaterhouse, 1839

Accepted name, Mammal Species of the World 2005

Lyman and O’Brien (1977) discussed the geographic range of auratus and evidence for segregating it from M. brandti; also see Kryštufek and Vohralík (2001). Based upon chromosomal data, Doğramaci et al. (1994b) recorded M. auratus from SE Turkey, and Yiğit et al. (2000b) later identified only one sample from 10 km E Kilis Prov., SE Turkey, after intensive survey efforts. They recorded M. brandti from throughout Turkey and contrasted its morphology and chromosomes (2n = 42, FN = 82 and 84) with those of M. auratus (2n = 44, FN = 82). Adler (1948) and Murphy (1985) recorded the origin of the laboratory stocks of M. auratus and history of their distributions to various laboratories in France, India, and the United States. Coronary arteries are described by Sans-Coma et al. (1993) and infraorbital glands by Kühnel (1983).

• Wilson, D and Reeder, D. (eds.) 2005. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 3rd ed. -- 2142 pp. Johns Hopkins University Press.