The intelligence level of hamsters is equivalent to that of human children aged 1 to 3. They have basic learning abilities but are unable to handle complex thinking.
1. Comparison of Intelligence Level with Humans
The intelligence quotient of hamsters is generally considered to be at the level of human children aged 1 to 3. They can master simple skills through repetitive training. For example:
- Recognizing the Owner: They can distinguish between familiar people and strangers by memorizing scents, sounds, or movements.
- Conditioned Reflex: For instance, associating the sound of knocking on the cage with feeding.
- Spatial Memory: After training, they can complete simple maze tasks.
However, solving complex problems or abstract thinking is far beyond their capabilities.
2. Differences among Breeds and Their Performances
There are slight differences in the intelligence performance of different hamster breeds:
- Winter White Dwarf Hamster with a Silver Fur Pattern (Silver Fox Hamster): It is gentle and easy to establish an intimate relationship with the owner.
- Pudding Dwarf Hamster: It has a relatively strong ability to understand commands.
- Campbell's Dwarf Hamster (Three-line Hamster): It has a gentle personality and stands out in terms of learning ability.
3. "Cleverness" Reflected in Behavioral Characteristics
The intelligence of hamsters is more reflected in their adaptive behaviors:
- Nocturnal Activity Habits: Their high level of activity at dawn and dusk shows the precision of their biological clock.
- Food Storage Instinct: Even when there is an abundant supply of food, they still hoard food, which reflects their survival instinct.
- Interaction Ability: After being raised for a long time, they may take the initiative to get close to the owner, such as interacting by lying on the owner's hand.
4. Controversies in the Scientific Community
Some studies believe that the intelligence of hamsters is underestimated. For example, their ability to distinguish the owner's voice or their sensitivity to environmental changes may exceed the results of basic tests. However, due to their small brain capacity, the upper limit of their intelligence is still relatively low.
Conclusion: The cleverness of hamsters is reflected in basic learning and survival adaptation. However, their abilities can only be observed through patient training, and there are significant individual differences.