2.

Campbell's Desert Hamster

Phodopus campbelli

French: Hamster de Campbell / German: Campbell-Zwerghamster / Spanish: Hamster enano de Campbell

Other common names: Campbell's Hamster, Dzungarian Hamster

Taxonomy. Cricetulus campbelli Thomas, 1905, “Shaborte, N.E. Mongolia (about 46°40’ N., 114° E.).”

In the past, P. campbelli was synonymized with P. sungorus, but the two species differ in chromosomal morphology. Analysis of mtDNA demonstrated that P. campbelli and P. sungorus are sister species. Within P. campbelli, there are three distinct mtD-NA lineages: western (Russian Altai and Tuva, and north-western Mongolia), eastern (central Mongolia and Chinese Inner Mongolia [= Nei Mongol]), and north-east ern (Russian southern Zabaykalsky Krai). Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.c.campbelliThomas,1905—C&EMongoliaandChina(WNingxia,InnerMongolia,andNHebei).

P. c. crepidatus Hollister, 1912 — SE Siberia (Altai Mts, Tuva, S Buryatia, and S Zabaykalsky Krai in Russia) and NW Mongolia.

A not yet formally described form based on genetic data is present in SW Mongolia.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 79-103 mm, tail 7-14 mm, ear 11-15 mm, hindfoot 10-13 mm; weight 23-28 g. Campbell's Desert Hamster is similar in appearance to the Striped Desert Hamster (PF. sungorus), but it has smaller ears, a narrow dorsal stripe, and gray underfur. Summer fur is gray-buff to grayish wood-brown on head and upperparts, with well-defined black mid-dorsal stripe running from head between eyes to base of tail; ears are black with white edges;lips, cheeks,tail, and legs are creamy white; throat and underparts are creamy buff. In some populations, pelage is slightly lighter in winter than summer, with light beige upperparts and pure white underparts. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 28 and FN = 51.

Habitat. Dry steppes, semi-deserts, and along river valleys up into mountains to elevations of ¢.3500 m. In some areas, Campbell’s Desert Hamster also occurs in human settlements, particularly in winter.

Food and Feeding. Campbell's Desert Hamster mainly eats seeds, but in some areas, green plant parts and insects are important. Food is stored in a special storage chamber in a burrow or in separate storage burrows.

Breeding. Breeding system is polygamous, and one female can copulate with up to four males, although usually only one that lives in a burrow with her. Males help rear young. During the breeding season, which lasts from mid-April to early October, females can produce 3-4 litters. Mean litter sizes in different parts of the distribution are 6-8-2 young. Gestation is c.18 days. Captive females become sexually mature at 48-60 days old.

Activity patterns. Campbell's Desert Hamster is mainly nocturnal. Activity starts at dusk and lasts for c.6 hours.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. On average, male Campbell’s Desert Hamsters move 370 m/night, and females move 130 m/ night; maximum nightly movement for males was 1-5 km. Home ranges of males are significantly larger than those of females and widely overlap; female home ranges do not overlap. Burrows have 2-6 entrances and one nest chamber 20-40 cm deep. Under natural conditions, scent marking is performed with excretions from mid-ventral glands of males and vaginal secretions or urine of females. Male-male behavioral interactions are usually strongly aggressive; male-female or female—female interactions are more amicable.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Campbell’s Desert Hamsteris listed as vulnerable in The Red Data Book ofBuryatia Republic.

Bibliography. Borisova (2013), Feoktistova (2008), Neumann et al. (2006), Ross (1995), Sokolov & Orlov (1980), Zhang Yongzu et al. (1997).