<p>According to <a href="http://baike.baidu.com/view/807094.htm" rel="nofollow">Baidu Baike</a>, it's a <strong>Syrian Hamster</strong> or a <strong>Golden Hamster</strong>. I'd say it's safe to say it's a hamster.</p>

<p>Hope that helps!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-22T06:16:06.797Z
2011-12-22T06:16:06.797Z
Ciaocibai
<p>England had wartime food rationing until 1953, I think it was.  We had a garden large enough to keep chickens, and we traded eggs with neighbours.  A family who bred rabbits were part of my parents' circle of &quot;We who get by, but only through hustling like crazy.&quot;</p>
<p>I remember when the Tories came back in and lifted the rationing &quot;provisionally,&quot; and I resolved to go and buy as much chocolate as I could possibly scratch up the money for.  I think it finally went away &quot;in celebration of the Coronation&quot; of Elizabeth II.</p>
<p>Anyway, mention of a not quite identifiable warm-blooded animal reminds me that one thing a war will do for you is get rid of all the rodents.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-11-15T01:37:03.270Z
Thanks for the nostalgic reminiscing. You say that "... one thing a war will do for you is get rid of all the rodents" Yes, and during peacetime, they, (the rodents), all become politicians and run the government.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-11-16T02:25:20.183Z
Wayne,I'm glad you liked it, but I can't say the same for yours: politics is an honourable calling, on which society depends for its functioning.  A few politicians are very poor at what they do.

Cynicism is a popular and powerful political position, but its results are always and everywhere harmful to our shared polity.
David Lloyd-Jones
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-11-14T21:43:26.660Z
2024-11-14T21:43:26.660Z
David Lloyd-Jones
<p>Officially, it is "Mesocricetus auratus" (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hamster" rel="nofollow">Golden hamster</a>) (<a href="http://baike.baidu.com/view/807094.htm" rel="nofollow">source1</a> <a href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/zh/wiki/%E9%87%91%E4%B8%9D%E7%86%8A" rel="nofollow">source2</a>). It belong to "仓鼠科", and it should a kind of "鼠类" in Chinese.</p>

<p>However, as not everybody is a biologist, and as the name for it is "金丝*<em>熊</em>*", it may not be treated as mouse in everyday life.</p>

<p>Another reason is that "鼠" does not carry a good meaning in Chinese. It is often related to "stealing" or something alike. So it may be avoided to name a kind pet animal. (However, we do have "仓鼠" for pets.)</p>

<p>btw: To be honest, I've never seen a real "金丝熊".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-22T09:58:54.850Z
These were spotted in 苏州的一个花鸟市场 so maybe a southern thing
going
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-22T08:16:53.090Z
2011-12-22T08:16:53.090Z
fefe
<p>金丝熊 is easily available from local animal markets in my wife's home town. We asked the owners of different stores and they say it is not a mouse.</p>

<p>So what exactly is it, is it just a fancy name for a mouse or something else?</p>

<meaning>
What exact breed of animal is a 金丝熊?
# What exact breed of animal is a 金丝熊?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-12-22)

金丝熊 is easily available from local animal markets in my wife's home town. We asked the owners of different stores and they say it is not a mouse.

So what exactly is it, is it just a fancy name for a mouse or something else?

**Tags:** meaning

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2011-12-22. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Officially, it is "Mesocricetus auratus" ([Golden hamster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hamster)) ([source1](http://baike.baidu.com/view/807094.htm) [source2](https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/zh/wiki/%E9%87%91%E4%B8%9D%E7%86%8A)). It belong to "仓鼠科", and it should a kind of "鼠类" in Chinese.

However, as not everybody is a biologist, and as the name for it is "金丝\**熊*\*", it may not be treated as mouse in everyday life.

Another reason is that "鼠" does not carry a good meaning in Chinese. It is often related to "stealing" or something alike. So it may be avoided to name a kind pet animal. (However, we do have "仓鼠" for pets.)

btw: To be honest, I've never seen a real "金丝熊".

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: These were spotted in 苏州的一个花鸟市场 so maybe a southern thing  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2011-12-22. Score: 0

According to [Baidu Baike](http://baike.baidu.com/view/807094.htm), it's a **Syrian Hamster** or a **Golden Hamster**. I'd say it's safe to say it's a hamster.

Hope that helps!


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### Answer by username_2 on 2024-11-14. Score: 0

England had wartime food rationing until 1953, I think it was. We had a garden large enough to keep chickens, and we traded eggs with neighbours. A family who bred rabbits were part of my parents' circle of "We who get by, but only through hustling like crazy."

I remember when the Tories came back in and lifted the rationing "provisionally," and I resolved to go and buy as much chocolate as I could possibly scratch up the money for. I think it finally went away "in celebration of the Coronation" of Elizabeth II.

Anyway, mention of a not quite identifiable warm-blooded animal reminds me that one thing a war will do for you is get rid of all the rodents.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Thanks for the nostalgic reminiscing. You say that "... one thing a war will do for you is get rid of all the rodents" Yes, and during peacetime, they, (the rodents), all become politicians and run the government.  
> **username_2**: Wayne,I'm glad you liked it, but I can't say the same for yours: politics is an honourable calling, on which society depends for its functioning.  A few politicians are very poor at what they do.  Cynicism is a popular and powerful political position, but its results are always and everywhere harmful to our shared polity.  

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