Abstract The Roborovski dwarf hamster Phodopus roborovskii belongs to the Phodopus genus, one of the seven within Cricetinae subfamily. Like other rodents such as mice, rats, or ferrets, hamsters can be important animal models for a range of diseases. Whereas the Syrian hamster from the genus Mesocricetus is now widely used as a model for mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019, Roborovski dwarf hamster shows a severe-to-lethal course of disease upon infection with the novel human coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.