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Common African dormouse - ELIOMYS OUERCINUS
Possibly Endangered
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Dormouse": "Dormouse" is a misnomer from the French word "dormir," to sleep. These nocturnal animals are not in the mouse family, Muridae. They are often found sleeping during the day, hence their name.
Location: Africa south of the Sahara.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Forests or open savannas; ranges from river valleys to arid rocky highlands.
Description: The general color of the body is some shade of gray and there are various black and white markings on the face. The hairs on the tail are quite long, and are dark on the top and paler beneath. Dormice vary in color from habitat to habitat. The head has a flattened shape, and the ears are large and rounded. This dormouse grows to about eight inches, about half of which is its tail. It can weigh over five ounces.
Behavior: This solitary dormouse is mainly nocturnal, but in areas of dense vegetation it may also be active during the day. It builds its nest in vegetation, on branches, in hollows of trees, in the thick of a bush, or in some cases among rocks. It often comes into houses and dwells in ceilings or under the roof. It feeds on fruit and seeds, as well as on eggs, lizards, and insects. Its vocalizations may be loud and shrill.
Reproduction: Litters of two to five young may be born several times a year. A gestation period of about four weeks precedes the offspring, which are independent by about five weeks of age.
Go to the Rodents Page to learn more about all the gnawing animals.
Or go to the Dormouse Index to study other
dormice.
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