Hamster

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/hamster

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Cricetinae
2. What are hamster cheek pouches and why do they have them?Cheek pouches are stretchy fur-lined pockets that can hold food heavier than half the hamster’s body weight. They let hamsters carry lots of seeds and grains back to their burrows quickly.
3. How do hamsters dig their burrows and why are burrows important?Hamsters use strong claws and powerful legs to dig tunnels that can reach several meters deep. Burrows keep them warm, protect them from predators, and give them places to sleep, store food, and raise babies.

Cricetinae: The scientific subfamily encompassing all hamster species, distinguished by their specialized cheek pouches for food transport.
Nocturnal/Crepuscular: Activity patterns characterized by being most active during the night (nocturnal) or twilight hours (crepuscular).
Thermoregulation: The biological process by which an animal maintains its body temperature within a certain range.