Editing Mouse-like hamster (section)

{{Short description|Genus of rodents}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Late Miocene|Recent}}
| image = Calo10.jpg
| display_parents = 2
| parent_authority = Vorontsov & Potapova, 1979
| taxon = Calomyscus
| authority = [[Oldfield Thomas|Thomas]], 1905
| type_species = ''[[Calomyscus bailwardi]]''
| type_species_authority = Thomas, 1905
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
''[[Calomyscus bailwardi]]''<br/>
''[[Calomyscus baluchi]]''<BR/>
''[[Calomyscus behzadi]]''<br/>
''[[Calomyscus elburzensis]]''<BR/>
''[[Calomyscus grandis]]''<BR/>
''[[Calomyscus hotsoni]]''<BR/>
''[[Calomyscus kermanensis]]''
''[[Calomyscus mystax]]''<BR/>
''[[Calomyscus tsolovi]]''<BR/>
''[[Calomyscus urartensis]]''
}}
[[image:Calo03.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]
[[image:Calo13.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Mouse-like hamster using its tail for balance while standing on a branch (a feat difficult for hamsters)]]

'''Mouse-like hamsters''', also called '''brush-tailed mice''', are a group of small [[rodent]]s found in [[Syria]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Iran]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Afghanistan]], and [[Pakistan]]. They are found in rocky outcrops and semi-mountainous areas in desert regions.

The mouse-like hamsters are not true [[hamster]]s, but represent an early split from the rest of the [[Muroidea|mouse-like rodents]].  They were once thought to be [[hamster]]s based on the shape of their molars, but they lack the [[cheek pouch]]es, flank glands and short tails of the true hamsters. The closest relatives of the mouse-like hamsters may be the extinct [[Cricetodontidae]]. Because of their seemingly early break from the rest of the mouse-like rodents, mouse-like hamsters have been placed in a family of their own, '''Calomyscidae''', and have been referred to as [[living fossil]]s.

All members of the [[genus]] were once considered part of the same [[species]], ''[[Calomyscus bailwardi]]'', but they are now considered separate species due to major differences in [[chromosome]] number, [[skull]] measurements, and other features.<ref>Steppan, S. J., R. A. Adkins, and J. Anderson. 2004. [[Phylogeny]] and [[divergence date]] estimates of rapid radiations in [[Muroidea|muroid]] [[rodent]]s based on multiple nuclear [[genes]]. Systematic Biology, 53:533-553.</ref>

In [[Europe]], a species of '''''Calomyscus''''' is available as a [[pet]]. They are labelled ''Calomyscus bailwardi mystax'' or ''Calomyscus bailwardi''. They are generally only available from dedicated breeders, not pet shops.