Neurogenesis in the lateral geniculate body, superior colliculus and suprachiasmatic nucleus takes place on fetal day 9.5 through 13. The visual cortex is produced on fetal day 10 through postnatal day 1. Thus in spite of the short gestation period of the hamster, 15.75 days, neurons in the central visual nuclei (expect for the outer cortical layers) are produced before birth.