A hamster is one of the most popular of small pets, but choosing the first one can be confusing when faced with all of the different types of hamsters available for purchase. A quick tutorial on the various hamster species can be of great help for the beginner pet owner.Hamster history is quite interesting. The small, furry rodent was discovered living in the deserts of Syria as far back as the mid 1800’s by a zoologist, who gave it the name Cricetus auratus, translated as Golden Hamster. Just about 100 years later, another zoologist found a family of hamsters in Syria, some of which were bred, producing what was to become the beginning of all pet hamsters in existence today.