The spectacled dormouse or ''namtap'' (''Graphiurus ocularis'') is a species of rodent in the family Gliridae, and one of four dormouse species endemic to South Africa. It has a bushy, squirrel-like tail, a fairly short muzzle, small ears and soft fur. Its face is marked with white and grey, with dark rings (spectacles) around its eyes. Its cheeks, underparts and the upper surfaces of its paws are white. Its tail is also usually tipped with white. Its distribution is restricted to the

Cederberg The Cederberg mountains are located near Clanwilliam, approximately 300 km north of Cape Town, South Africa at about . The mountain range is named after the endangered Clanwilliam cedar (''Widdringtonia wallichii''), which is a tree end ...

in western South Africa, and it is associated with rocky habitats, as well as trees and outbuildings. It is

nocturnal Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...

and an agile climber. Its diet consists primarily of seeds, other plant material and invertebrates. They have been remarked to eat certain types of scorpions as well and will kill other mice or smaller rat species in their territory.

References

*Stuart C. & Stuart T. 2001
Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa
p. 92. Struik Publishers, Cape Town. * Coetzee, N., Griffin, M. & Grubb, P. 2004.
Graphiurus ocularis

2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Downloaded on 29 July 2007. *Holden, M. E.. 2005. Family Gliridae. pp. 819–841 ''in'' Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Endemic fauna of South Africa Graphiurus Mammals of South Africa Mammals described in 1829 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{rodent-stub