Have you seen the video BBC One’s series, Pets – Wild at Heart, put out last week?
It’s only a couple of minutes long and shows a hamster stuffing his cheeks. You might ask what’s so special about that, but wait until you see the video! The hamster is being scanned with an X-ray machine, so you can watch the pouches being filled as it’s putting as much food into his mouth as he can manage.
It turns out those pockets actually extend up to its back hips, solving the mystery of how hamsters store so much food in their cheeks.
About Hamster Cheeks
A hamster’s cheek pouches are located on both sides of the mouth, forming two separate “bags” extending back to the rear hips. Cheek pouches not only give the hamster a way to collect food quickly but as temporary storage and a means to transport their hoarded food to a better place. When full, the pouches can make the hamsters’ heads double, or even triple in size. Whoa!
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Especially in the wild, this method of food-collecting gives the animal a measure of protection. They can gather their supplies fast, and then take them to safety in a sheltered area.
Some female species of hamsters have even been known to hide their young in their cheek pouches to carry them away to safety when they fear danger. Other species fill their pouches with air to help them float while swimming.
Isn’t this amazing? I hope you have enjoyed learning how hamsters store so much food in their cheeks as much as I enjoyed doing the research.
Sources: BBC One and Wikipedia
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Her own animal experience is vast, having raised and rescued Alpine Goats, Chickens, Turkeys, Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs, Turtles, Raccoons, Cats, Dogs, and even an Opossum and Bearded Dragon.
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Hello Jeanne, I thought this information was really well written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
How can you not smile at this!
I know. Pretty cute, isn’t it? Thanks for visiting my blog today, Norma. Come back soon!
Great post. i always wondered this question. I am looking forward to the day when my son, asks me such questions about animals. The who, what, where and why of the animal kingdom is so fascinating.
Yes the animal kingdom really is very fascinating. I love to learn more about animals that we often take for granted and then share this information with others. It’s a fun thing to do. Thanks for stopping by, Lozelle. Come back soon!
That was great. We didn’t know that.
Hay, thanks for stopping by my blog! I was at your Funny Farm earlier today for the first time too. I’m happy to meet you. 🙂 Take care!
It’s always nice to meet new-to-us bloggers. 🙂
It sure is, Jan. All the best to you!
I could watch hamsters (and gerbils) all day long. They’re hilarious and it is amazing how much stuff they can store in there.
It is pretty cute, isn’t it? lol Thanks for having a look, Scott. Always a pleasure to have you visit my blog. 🙂
I knew their pouches were big but I never knew the were that big,very clever,xx Rachel
It is clever, isn’t it? You gotta do what you gotta do, I guess. Thanks for stopping by, Speedy Rabbit!
tThat is so amazing! Animals are too darn cool sometimes.
I know! Aren’t they though? Thanks for stopping by, Jenn! I appreciate you!