Forest dormouse

For the species (Dryomys nitedula), see Forest Dormouse.

Forest dormouse Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene - Recent
Dryomys nitedula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Gliridae
Subfamily:	Leithiinae
Genus:	Dryomys Thomas, 1906
Species
Dryomys laniger Dryomys niethammeri Dryomys nitedula

Dryomys is a genus of dormouse found throughout much of Eurasia, known collectively as the forest dormice. They generally occur in forests or thickets.

Head and body is 8–13 cm (3.1–5.1 in), and tail length is 6–11 cm (2.4–4.3 in). The animals weigh 18–36 g (0.63–1.3 oz).

Natural history

These dormice hibernate in hollows or in burrows, but nightly nesting is done in low branches or shrubs. They are quite at home in an arboreal setting. The animals are nocturnal.

They are omnivorous feeding on seeds, acorns, buds, invertebrates, eggs, and bird nestlings.

Forest dormice breed from March to December in the southern part of their range and May to August in the north. Gestation is 21-30 days and 2-5 young are born at a time.

Species

• Woolly Dormouse, Dryomys laniger
• Balochistan Forest Dormouse (Niethammer's Dormouse), Dryomys niethammeri
• Forest Dormouse, Dryomys nitedula

References

• Duff, A. and A. Lawson. 2004. Mammals of the World A Checklist. New Haven, Yale University Press.
• Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.