Ciscaucasian hamster
Kingdom
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Subphylum
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Genus
SPECIES
Mesocricetus raddei

The Ciscaucasian hamster (Mesocricetus raddei ) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is also known as the Georgian hamster and is found only in Georgia and Russia.

Economic significance

In some years M. raddei becomes a considerable pest of agricultural crops. It can damage cereals and perennial grasses, disrupt potato plantings, melon fields and vegetable gardens. Close to the burrow the vegetation may be completely destroyed. It is sometimes trapped for its fur.

Distribution

Geography

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Biogeographical realms

This hamster occurs on the northern slopes of the Caucasus and Ciscaucasia, between Dagestan, the Don River and the Sea of Azov. It is also known from a single record in Georgia. It appears to be extending its range north and north-westwards in its plains habitats but in the mountains the population remains stable. It is found in grassy steppes and also mountain steppes at elevations from 1600 to 2300 m above sea level. It favours pasture and cultivated land and also occurs in belts of trees and rough grass between fields but not in dense woodland.

References

1. Ciscaucasian hamster Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciscaucasian_hamster
2. Ciscaucasian hamster on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13222/115111279

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