Dwarf hamsters (genus Phodopus) are primarily native to northern and central Asia, with specific distributions as follows:
Key Countries of Origin
Russia: Roborovski hamsters (also known as "husband and wife mice") are native to southern Russia and Kazakhstan, while Campbell's dwarf hamsters (often called "three-lined mice") inhabit southwestern Siberia.
China: Wild populations of Campbell's dwarf hamsters (sometimes referred to as "one-lined mice") are found in Heilongjiang, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, and other regions. The short-tailed dwarf hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) are common in northern China and Siberia.
Mongolia: Both Roborovski hamsters and Campbell's dwarf hamsters can be found in Mongolian grasslands and semi-desert areas.
Habitat Characteristics
Dwarf hamsters mostly inhabit grasslands, semi-deserts, Gobi regions, and the edges of farmlands, adapting well to cold and arid climates. For example, Roborovski hamsters live in desertified areas and are skilled at digging burrows.
History of Domestication as Pets
Campbell's dwarf hamsters were first introduced to Japan from Siberia as laboratory animals before gaining popularity as pets worldwide. Roborovski hamsters, valued for their docile nature and tiny size (only 4-5 cm), are also widely kept as pets.
Some wild dwarf hamster species are listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN, but habitat destruction has led to local population declines.