What is a Djungarian hamster?

Djungarian hamsters are a type of dwarf hamster from Central Asia. They are commonly sold as pets in Europe and America. In the United States, animals sold as Djungarians are usually Campbell's Russian hamsters, but elsewhere, "Djungarian" refers to the Siberian hamster, which is a separate species.

The two species resemble one another in that both are very small, have furry paws and have a gray stripe running the length of their backs. However, Campbell's hamsters have smaller ears, and their underbellies are gray. Siberian hamsters have white fur on their bellies. Both species are members of the genus Phodopus, and care for both is similar.