Scientific Information About Robo Dwarf Hamsters

The full scientific name for a Roborovski dwarf hamster is Animalia (animal kingdom) chordata (with a backbone) mammalia (females nurse the young) rodentia cricetidae (mouse-like rodent) cricentinae (hamster) Phodopus Roborovskii. This particular hamster species is usually referred to as "P. Roborovskii."

  1. Discoverer

    • Robo hamsters are named after Russian Army Lieutenant Vsevolod Roborovski, who discovered them in 1894. Animal species named after male discovers are given an "i" at the end of their names, which is why there are two i's at the end of P. Roborovskii.

    Native Habitat

    • According to Hamsterific.com, Roborovksi hamsters originally lived in the deserts of Mongolia and China. They would make their tunnels under sand dunes.

    Size

    • The smallest of all pet hamster species, Robo dwarfs only grow to be 2 inches (5 centimeters) long; they weigh half to three-quarters of an ounce (14 to 21 grams).

    Activity

    • According to Linda Price, founder of the California Hamster Association, Roborovski dwarfs are crepuscular, which means they are most active at sunrise and sunset.

    Sociability

    • The more familiar Syrian hamster

      Roborovskis dwarfs can rarely be truly tamed. Unlike many other pet hamster species, such as the Syrian (golden) hamster, Robo dwarfs prefer to spend their time with another Roborovski hamster.