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Syrian hamster vision: the science and the numbers

Mesocricetus auratus · order Rodentia · Mammals: all the numbers

The Syrian hamster has 2 colour receptor classes (360 and 508 nm), one of them in the ultraviolet.[1] Its sharpest vision resolves 0.525 cycles per degree, against 63.75 for people in this dataset.[5][6] Both eyes see the same 80° in front of it.[8]

See it on your photoBack to How does the Syrian hamster see?
  • 2colour receptor classesMeasured
  • 0.525cycles per degree (sharpness)Measured
  • 80°seen by both eyesMeasured

The Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a mammal in the order Rodentia. Its eyes belong to the vision type Small prey mammal (UV): two or three cone types, often including ultraviolet, low sharpness and a near-panoramic field. Measured in this species: colour, sharpness, field of view, foveas and night vision. Measured core: measured values on at least 3 of the 6 dials.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What the Syrian hamster sees: colour receptors

Syrian hamster colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmSyrian hamster: 2 receptor peaks at 360, 508 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Syrian hamster: 360, 508 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • It has two colour receptor classes (a dichromat): reds and greens fall on one axis, as in red-green colour blindness in people.
  • Its sharpest vision resolves 0.525 cycles per degree: the finest stripe pattern it can tell apart from grey.
  • Both eyes see the same 80° in front of it (binocular overlap), where depth is judged best.
  • Activity pattern: nocturnal.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
2 receptor classes: 360 nm (UVS), 508 nm (MWS (green))
measured in this species
Measured[1]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[1][2][3][4]
Ultraviolet
yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet		Measured
SharpnessAcuity
0.525 cycles per degree
median of 2 behavioural rows (method priority rule)
Measured[5][6]Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[7][6]
Field of viewBinocular overlap
80°
median of 1 rows (eyes-at-rest rows preferred)
Measured[8]Binocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[8][9]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[10]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[10]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[8][9]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
0
fovea_present / area_centralis_type (retinal topography; count 1 = fovea present, 0 = none)
Measured[11]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[11]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[11]
Fovea type
area centralis		Measured[11]
Night visionActivity pattern
nocturnal
mode of 9 rows (of 9 rows): cathemeral; nocturnal; scotopic
Measured (not re-verified)[12][13][14][1][15][16][17][18]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[12][13][14][1][15][16][17][18]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[19][20]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[21]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[12][13][14][1][15][16][17][18]
Rods vs cones
rod-dominated
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[12][13][14][1][15][16][17][18]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
62.5 Hz
median of 7 relatives in order Rodentia: Rattus norvegicus, Cavia porcellus, Mus musculus, Callospermophilus lateralis, Tamias amoenus, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Group default[22][23][24][25]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[23][24]

All mammals side by side: Mammals: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Longcore 2023
  2. Kirwan
  3. Müller et al. 2009
  4. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  5. Caves et al. 2024
  6. Veilleux et al. 2014
  7. Kirk et al. 2004
  8. Heesy 2004
  9. Heffner et al. 1992
  10. Campbell & Green 1965
  11. Kopania et al. 2025
  12. Anderson et al. 2017
  13. Borges et al. 2018
  14. Wilman et al. 2014
  15. Maor et al. 2017
  16. Jones et al. 2009
  17. Schmitz et al. 2011
  18. Moura et al. 2024
  19. Banks et al. 2015
  20. Cervino et al. 2021
  21. Guareschi et al. 2025
  22. Haarlem et al. 2026
  23. Healy et al. 2013
  24. Inger et al. 2014
  25. Lafitte et al. 2022

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.