rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...
of the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Gliridae (this family is also variously called Myoxidae or Muscardinidae by different taxonomists). Dormice are nocturnal animals found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. They are named for their long, dormant
hibernation
Hibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic reduction entered by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy characterized by low body-temperature, slow breathing and heart-rate, and low metabolic rate. It is mos ...
period of six months or longer. There are 9 genera and 28 living species of dormice, with half of living species belonging to the African genus ''
Graphiurus
The African dormice (genus ''Graphiurus'') are dormice that live throughout sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails. They primarily eat invertebrates, with other components of their diet inc ...
.''
Etymology
The word dormouse comes from
Middle English
Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...
, of uncertain origin, possibly from a dialectal element ''*dor-'', from
Old Norse
Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...
and Middle English .
The word is sometimes conjectured to come from an Anglo-Norman derivative of , with the second element mistaken for ''mouse'', but no such Anglo-Norman term is known to have existed.
The Latin noun , which is the origin of the scientific name, descends from the
Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European language family. No direct record of Proto-Indo-European exists; its proposed features have been derived by linguistic reconstruction from documented Indo-Euro ...
noun ''*gl̥h₁éys'' , and is related to
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
() and
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...
() .
Characteristics
Dormice are small rodents, with body lengths between , and weight between . They are generally
mouse
A mouse (: mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus'' ...
-like in appearance, but with
fur
A fur is a soft, thick growth of hair that covers the skin of almost all mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an ...
red
tail
The tail is the elongated section at the rear end of a bilaterian animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage extending backwards from the midline of the torso. In vertebrate animals that evolution, evolved to los ...
s. They are largely
arboreal
Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally (scansorial), but others are exclusively arboreal. The hab ...
, agile, and well adapted to climbing. Most species are
nocturnal
Nocturnality is a ethology, behavior in some non-human animals characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnality, diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatur ...
. Dormice have an excellent sense of
hearing
Hearing, or auditory perception, is the ability to perceive sounds through an organ, such as an ear, by detecting vibrations as periodic changes in the pressure of a surrounding medium. The academic field concerned with hearing is auditory sci ...
and signal each other with a variety of vocalisations.
Dormice are
omnivorous
An omnivore () is an animal that regularly consumes significant quantities of both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize ...
, and typically feed on berries, flowers, fruits, insects, and nuts. They are unique among rodents in that they lack a
cecum
The cecum ( caecum, ; plural ceca or caeca, ) is a pouch within the peritoneum that is considered to be the beginning of the large intestine. It is typically located on the right side of the body (the same side of the body as the appendix (a ...
, a part of the gut used in other species to ferment vegetable matter. Their
dental formula
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, it is the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age. That is, the number, type, and morpho-physiology ...
is similar to that of
squirrel
Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae (), a family that includes small or medium-sized rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrel ...
s, although they often lack
premolar
The premolars, also called premolar Tooth (human), teeth, or bicuspids, are transitional teeth located between the Canine tooth, canine and Molar (tooth), molar teeth. In humans, there are two premolars per dental terminology#Quadrant, quadrant in ...
s:
Dormice breed once (or, occasionally, twice) each year, producing litters with an average of four young after a
gestation
Gestation is the period of development during the carrying of an embryo, and later fetus, inside viviparous animals (the embryo develops within the parent). It is typical for mammals, but also occurs for some non-mammals. Mammals during pregn ...
period of 22–24 days. They can live for as long as five years. The young are born hairless and helpless, and their eyes do not open until about 18 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 depend on the availability of food.
Hibernation
One of the most notable characteristics of those dormice that live in
temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...
zones is hibernation. They can hibernate six months out of the year, or even longer if the weather does not become warm enough, sometimes waking for brief periods to eat food they had previously stored nearby. During the summer, they accumulate fat in their bodies to nourish them through the hibernation period.
Relationship with humans
The
edible dormouse
''Glis'' is a genus of rodent that contains two extant species, both known as edible dormice or fat dormice: the European edible dormouse ''(Glis glis'') and the Iranian edible dormouse (''Glis persicus''). It also contains a number of fossil spe ...
(''Glis glis'') was considered a delicacy in ancient Rome, either as a savoury appetizer or as a dessert (dipped in honey and poppy seeds). The Romans used a special kind of enclosure, a glirarium, to raise and fatten dormice for the table. It is still considered a delicacy in
Slovenia
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
and in several places in
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
, namely
Lika
Lika () is a traditional region of Croatia proper, roughly bound by the Velebit mountain from the southwest and the Plješevica mountain from the northeast. On the north-west end Lika is bounded by Ogulin-Plaški basin, and on the south-east by t ...
, and the islands of
Hvar
Hvar (; Chakavian: ''Hvor'' or ''For''; ; ; ) is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, located off the Dalmatian coast, lying between the islands of Brač, Vis (island), Vis and Korčula. Approximately long,
with a high east–west ridge of M ...
and
Brač
Brač is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, with an area of ,
making it the largest island in Dalmatia, and the third largest in the Adriatic. It is separated from the mainland by the Brač Channel, which is wide.Elizabethans to induce sleep since the animal put on fat before hibernating.
In more recent years, dormice have begun to enter the pet trade; however, they are uncommon as pets and are considered an
exotic pet
An exotic pet is a pet which is relatively rare or unusual to keep, or is generally thought of as a Wild animal, wild species rather than as a Domesticated animal, domesticated pet. The definition varies by culture, location, and over time—as an ...
. The woodland dormouse (''Graphiurus murinus)'' is the most commonly seen species in the pet trade. Asian garden dormice (''Eliomys melanurus'') are also occasionally kept as pets.
Evolution
Dormice likely originated in Europe, with the earliest dormouse genus '' Eogliravus'' being known from the Early Eocene (around 48-41 million years ago) of France. Dormice were relatively undiverse in the Eocene, but considerably diversified during the
Oligocene
The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch (geology), epoch of the Paleogene Geologic time scale, Period that extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that defin ...
(34-23 million years ago). Their ability to hibernate may have emerged during this period. They reached an apex of diversity during the late Early
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...
(around 17 million years ago) when there were 18 genera and 36 species of dormice in Europe alone during this period. During this timespan, dormice represented the dominant group of rodents in Europe.
The earliest Asian dormice are known from the early Miocene, and the Miocene saw the emergence of several of the modern genera of living dormice. The diversity of dormice saw continual decline until the middle
Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch (geology), epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.33 to 2.58Graphiurus
The African dormice (genus ''Graphiurus'') are dormice that live throughout sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails. They primarily eat invertebrates, with other components of their diet inc ...
'', which first appeared during the Pliocene, while the diversity of European dormice remained relatively low compared to their Miocene peak.
Several dormouse lineages experienced insular gigantism after being isolated on islands in the Mediterranean during the Pliocene and
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene ( ; referred to colloquially as the ''ice age, Ice Age'') is the geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fin ...
, the largest being the rabbit-sized ''
Leithia
''Leithia'' is an extinct genus of giant dormice from the Pleistocene of the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Sicily. It is considered an example of island gigantism. ''Leithia melitensis'' is the largest known species of dormouse, living or e ...
'' of Sicily and Malta, the largest dormouse ever.
Classification
The family consists of 29 extant species, in three subfamilies and (arguably) nine genera:
Cladogram of most living and recently extinct dormice genera based on
mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA and mDNA) is the DNA located in the mitochondrion, mitochondria organelles in a eukaryotic cell that converts chemical energy from food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial DNA is a small portion of the D ...
after Petrova et al. 2024:Family Gliridae – Dormice
* Subfamily
Glirinae
The Glirinae are a subfamily of dormice (Gliridae); it contains two extant genera, one being monotypic and the other containing two species:
Subfamily Glirinae
*Genus ''Glirulus''
** Japanese dormouse, ''Glirulus japonicus''
*Genus ''Glis''
**Eu ...
** Genus ''
Glirulus
''Glirulus'' is a genus of dormouse. The only extant species is the Japanese dormouse ''(Glirulus japonicus)'' but fossil species indicate that the genus was widespread in Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hem ...
Glis
Glis is an electronic music project founded in 2001 by Shaun Frandsen of Seattle, WA. The band has experienced several lineup changes and guest appearances, with frontman Shaun Frandsen acting as primary producer, vocalist, songwriter, and inst ...
''
***
European edible dormouse
The European edible dormouse also known as the European dormouse or European fat dormouse (''Glis glis'') is a large dormouse and one of only two living species in the genus ''Glis (genus), Glis'', found in most of Europe and parts of western Asi ...
, ''Glis glis''
***
Iranian edible dormouse
The Iranian edible dormouse or Iranian fat dormouse (''Glis persicus'') is a species of dormouse native to Western and Central Asia. It is one of only two species in the genus ''Glis''.
Taxonomy
It was long considered conspecific with the Euro ...
, ''Glis persicus''
* Subfamily
Graphiurinae
The African dormice (genus ''Graphiurus'') are dormice that live throughout sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails. They primarily eat invertebrates, with other components of their diet inc ...
** Genus ''
Graphiurus
The African dormice (genus ''Graphiurus'') are dormice that live throughout sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails. They primarily eat invertebrates, with other components of their diet inc ...
Leithiinae
Leithiinae is a subfamily of dormice. It is named after the ''Leithia'', an extinct genus of giant dormouse from the Pleistocene of Sicily.
Classification
Subfamily Leithiinae
*Genus ''Chaetocauda''
** Chinese dormouse, ''Chaetocauda sichuanensi ...
** Genus ''
Chaetocauda
The Chinese dormouse or Sichuan dormouse (''Chaetocauda sichuanensis'') is a species of dormouse found in subalpine mixed forests in northern Sichuan, China, where it is known from Jiuzhaigou and Wanglang Nature Reserves. It is known only from t ...
''
*** Chinese dormouse, ''Chaetocauda sichuanensis''
** Genus ''
Dryomys
''Dryomys'' is a genus of dormouse. Collectively the members of the genus are referred to as forest dormice, although the type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica ...
Hypnomys
''Hypnomys'', otherwise known as Balearic giant dormice, is an extinct genus of dormouse (Gliridae) in the subfamily Leithiinae. Its species are considered examples of insular gigantism. They were endemic to the Balearic Islands in the western M ...
Minorcan giant dormouse
''Hypnomys'', otherwise known as Balearic giant dormice, is an extinct genus of dormouse (Gliridae) in the subfamily Leithiinae. Its species are considered examples of island gigantism, insular gigantism. They were endemic to the Balearic Islands ...
, ''Hypnomys mahonensis''†
** Genus ''
Leithia
''Leithia'' is an extinct genus of giant dormice from the Pleistocene of the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Sicily. It is considered an example of island gigantism. ''Leithia melitensis'' is the largest known species of dormouse, living or e ...
Muscardinus
The hazel dormouse or common dormouse (''Muscardinus avellanarius'') is a small dormouse species native to Europe and the only living species in the genus ''Muscardinus''.
Distribution and habitat
The hazel dormouse is native to northern Europe ...
''
***
Hazel dormouse
The hazel dormouse or common dormouse (''Muscardinus avellanarius'') is a small dormouse species native to Europe and the only living species in the genus ''Muscardinus''.
Distribution and habitat
The hazel dormouse is native to northern Europe ...
Selevinia
The desert dormouse (''Selevinia betpakdalaensis'') is a species of rodent in the dormouse family, Gliridae. This species was formerly placed in its own family, Seleviniidae, but it is now considered to be a dormouse, monotypic within the genus ...