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What Is
a Syrian
Hamster?
Hamsters are members of the rodent
family. This is the largest group of
mammals, and contains over 2,000
different species of varying shapes and
sizes. The word rodent comes from
the Latin word
rodere
(to gnaw), and
gnawing is one thing all rodents have
in common. They gnaw to get their food
and to make their homes. Rodents have
four big front teeth, the incisors, that
are evolved for gnawing. These sharp
chisel-shaped teeth meet together
like pincers and are very effective.
They grow continually throughout the
animal’s life.
What is a
Syrian hamster?.
14
Hamsters