X-Rays Demonstrate How Much Food Hamsters Can Stuff Into Their Surprisingly Large Cheeks

An episode of the PBS Nature series “Pets – Wild at Heart” focused on the incredible skeletal flexibility of domestic hamsters using moving x-rays of the animal as he burrowed through a plastic tunnel. The x-ray also captured the staggering amount of food the hamster was able to fit into his cheeks, which are really pockets that extend all the way down to his hips.

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.