Everything about Dormouse totally explained
Dormice are
rodents of the
family Gliridae. (This family is also variously called
Myoxidae or
Muscardinidae by different taxonomists). Dormice are mostly found in
Europe, although some live in
Africa and
Asia. They are particularly known for their long periods of
hibernation.
Characteristics
Dormice are small for rodents, with a body length of between 6 and 19 centimetres (2.5 - 7.5 inches), and weighing between 15 and 200 grams. They are generally
mouse-like in appearance, but with
furred, rather than scaly,
tails. They are largely but not exclusively
arboreal animals, and are agile and well adapted to climbing. Most species are
nocturnal. Dormice have an excellent sense of
hearing, and signal each other with a range of different vocalisations.
Dormice are
omnivorous, typically feeding on fruits, berries, flowers, nuts and insects. Dormice are unique among rodents in that they lack a
cecum, a part of the gut used in other species to ferment vegetable matter. Their
dental formula is similar to that of
squirrels, although they often lack
premolars:
Dormice breed once or twice a year, producing litters with an average of four young after a
gestation period of 21-32 days. They can live for as long as five years. The young are born hairless, and helpless, and their eyes don't open until about eighteen days after birth. They typically become sexually mature after the end of their first hibernation. Dormice live in small family groups, with home ranges that vary widely between species, and depending on the availability of food
Evolution
Currently, the earliest fossil evidence of dormouse species comes from Europe in the early
Eocene . They appear in Africa in the upper
Miocene and only relatively recently in Asia. Many types of extinct dormouse species have been identified. During the
Pleistocene, giant dormice the size of large rats, such as
Leithia melitensis, lived on the islands of
Malta and
Sicily.
Classification
The family consists of 34 living species, in three subfamilies and (arguably) 10 genera:
Family:
Gliridae
Subfamily Graphiurinae
Fossil species
Subfamily Bransatoglirinae
Further Information
Get more info on 'Dormouse'.
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