Syrian Hamster

A juvenile Syrian Hamster

Syrian HamsterMesocricetus auratus is a member of the rodent subfamily Cricetinae, the hamsters. In the wild, they are now considered vulnerable. Their numbers have been declining due to loss of habitat caused by agriculture and deliberate destruction by humans. However, captive breeding programs are well established, and captive-bred golden hamsters are popularly kept as pets and used as scientific research animals.
(Text source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Hamster)