The golden hamster or Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, is a very well known 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 popular as pets and scientific research animals. Adults are from 5 to 7 inches (13 to 18 cm) long, and have a lifespan of 2 to 3 years. In captivity the golden hamster is active mostly at night, but in the wild it is acrepuscular animal. Wild hamsters sleep during the day in the deepest part of their burrows to avoid predators; they wake up just after sunset, but are active on the ground only for a few hours in the early and late parts of the night.
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