Chinese hamsters are Old World rodents characterized by soft thick fur, large expandable cheek pouches, and relatively long tails. Because this small breed of hamster has a slender body and a tail that is unusually long, it is thought to resemble a mouse and is often referred to as "mouster". Native habitats include open and rather dry areas that extend from Mongolia eastwards to China and Manchuria. In the wild, the burrows of these small creatures can be found along the borders of deserts and in vast semi-dry grass-covered plains.