AnAge entry for Cricetulus barabensis

Classification (HAGRID: 02874)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Rodentia
                Family: Cricetidae
                    Genus: Cricetulus
Species: Cricetulus barabensis
Common name: Striped dwarf hamster
Synonyms: Mus furunculus, Cricetulus griseus, Cricetulus manchuricus, Cricetulus mongolicus, Cricetulus obscurus, Cricetulus barabensis ferrugineus, Cricetulus griseus fumatus

Maximum longevity: 5.3 years (captivity)
Source: ref. 671
Sample size: Small
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: The /Cricetulus barabensis griseus/ subspecies is widely used in biomedical research. After females deliver their third litter, they exhibit a progressive decline in litter size. They stop reproducing at about 16 months of age. Progesterone injections can induce pregnancies in aged females, though infant mortality is higher and the growth of the young is retarded [0816]. Some authors consider the /griseus/ subspecies as a separate species.

[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World
[1012] Hashimoto et al. (2004), Comparative study on circadian rhythms of body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor activity in three species hamsters (PubMed)
[0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data
[0816] Parkening (1982), Reproductive senescence in the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) (PubMed)