I WONDER - Where Do Hamsters Come From?

Hamsters were discovered in the desert about 100 years ago. The hamsters we know today are all descended from a small group that was domesticated in Syria.

Discuss the significance of the small group from which all hamsters descended.

Where were hamsters originally found?

• In the forest

• In the desert

• In the mountains

• In the plains

How long ago were hamsters domesticated?

• 50 years ago

• 100 years ago

• 200 years ago

• 300 years ago

What can you infer about the lineage of the hamsters we see today?

• They are all from different groups

• They descended from a small group

• They have no common ancestry

• They are all wild hamsters

From which country were the hamsters domesticated?

• Syria

• Egypt

• China

• Russia