Currently, there are 18 known species of hamsters in 7 genera worldwide, mainly classified into the following major categories:
I. Common Pet Hamster Breeds
Dwarf Hamsters (Genus Phodopus)
Winter White Dwarf Hamster: Commonly known as the "third-line hamster" or "maple leaf hamster," with a gentle temperament.
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster: Commonly called the "first-line hamster," known for a more feisty nature.
Roborovski Dwarf Hamster: Commonly referred to as the "grandpa hamster," it is the smallest in size and has a longer lifespan.
Syrian Hamsters (Bear Hamsters)
Golden Hamster: The largest in size, including long-haired, short-haired, and curly-haired variants.
Other Specialty Breeds
Silver Fox Hamster: A distinct variant of the Winter White Dwarf Hamster with a prominent dorsal stripe.
Pudding Hamster: An artificially bred yellow dwarf hamster.
Milk Tea Hamster: A gentle breed with light gray fur.
II. Wild and Special Varieties
Chinese Distribution: Includes 8 species across 3 genera, such as the Short-tailed Hamster and Black-striped Hamster.
Laboratory Breeds: Some genetically edited varieties used for scientific research.
Note: In practical keeping, different coat color variations (such as white waist, black belly, etc.) may be subtypes of the same species.