Mesocricetus raddei (Nehring 1894)

[Cricetus] raddei Nehring 1894, Zool. Anz., 18: 148.

Type Locality: Russia, N Caucasus, Dagestan, Samur River.

Vernacular Names: Ciscaucasian Hamster.

Synonyms: Mesocricetus avaricus Ognev and Heptner 1927; Mesocricetus nigricans (Brandt 1832); Mesocricetus nigriculus Nehring 1898 .

Distribution: Russia, steppes along N slopes of Caucasus from Dagestan to Don River and Sea of Azov.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Convincingly separated as a species on morphological and chromosomal grounds by Hamer and Schutowa (1965).