The African dormice (
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
''Graphiurus'') are
dormice
A dormouse is a rodent of the family (biology), family 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 ...
that live throughout
sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lie south of the Sahara. These include Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the list of sovereign states and ...
in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails. They primarily eat
invertebrates
Invertebrates are animals that neither develop nor retain a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''spine'' or ''backbone''), which evolved from the notochord. It is a paraphyletic grouping including all animals excluding the chordate subphylum ...
, with other components of their diet including small
vertebrates
Vertebrates () are animals with a vertebral column (backbone or spine), and a cranium, or skull. The vertebral column surrounds and protects the spinal cord, while the cranium protects the brain.
The vertebrates make up the subphylum Vertebra ...
, fruit, nuts and eggs. They represent the most diverse living genus of dormice, making up half of all living species.
Species
Genus ''Graphiurus'', African dormice
*
Angolan African dormouse, ''Graphiurus angolensis''
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Christy's dormouse, ''Graphiurus christyi''
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Jentink's dormouse, ''Graphiurus crassicaudatus''
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Johnston's African dormouse, ''Graphiurus johnstoni''
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Kellen's dormouse, ''Graphiurus kelleni''
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Lorrain dormouse, ''Graphiurus lorraineus''
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Small-eared dormouse, ''Graphiurus microtis''
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Monard's dormouse, ''Graphiurus monardi''
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Woodland dormouse, ''Graphiurus murinus''
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Nagtglas's African dormouse, ''Graphiurus nagtglasii''
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Spectacled dormouse, ''Graphiurus ocularis''
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Rock dormouse, ''Graphiurus platyops''
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Stone dormouse, ''Graphiurus rupicola''
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Silent dormouse, ''Graphiurus surdus''
*''
Graphiurus walterverheyeni''
Gallery
Image:Graphiurus_spec_-murinus-3.jpg, ''Graphiurus'' sp. (probably ''murinus'') – male
Image:Graphiurus_spec_-murinus-2.jpg, ''Graphiurus'' sp. (probably ''murinus'') – three males in a knot-hole
Image:Graphiurus_spec_-murinus-4.jpg, ''Graphiurus'' sp. (probably ''murinus'') – two adults eating a nectarine
References
Rodent genera
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