# Dormouse (*Muscardinus avellanarius*) Dormice are small, furry creatures that love to sleep in cozy nests during the day. They are excellent climbers and can move swiftly through trees in search of nuts, fruits, and insects. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Common Dormouse ![Dormouse](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424631/objects/6050.jpg) ## Appearance The Dormouse is a small rodent with beautiful golden-brown fur and a distinctive long, bushy tail. It has large black eyes and a white patch on its throat. Its golden colour and furry tail easily distinguish it from common mice. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Gliridae - **Genus:** Muscardinus ## Interesting facts - A dormouse actually sleeps for more than half its entire life. - Dormice can double their body weight before hibernating for winter! - Their bushy tail helps them balance perfectly when scrambling through branches. - They build amazing spherical nests high up in thorny bushes and trees. ## Special abilities - **Hibernation Hero:** Dormouse can slow its body functions way down to hibernate for up to seven months, helping it survive cold winters. - **Tail Escape:** Dormouse has a tail that can snap off if caught, letting it escape from predators, similar to some lizards. - **Arboreal Acrobat:** Dormouse has strong gripping feet and a prehensile tail that helps it climb branches quickly and safely. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6-9 cm - **Weight:** 0.015-0.04 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-7 - **Gestation:** 21-24 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny omnivores forage for juicy berries, crunchy nuts, sweet flowers, and small insects. - **Primary Foods:** hazelnuts, blackberries, honeysuckle flowers, aphids, caterpillars, nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tawny Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — Often prey for nocturnal hunters - **Eaten by:** Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — Vulnerable to agile ground predators - **Eats:** Hazelnut Tree (*Corylus avellana*) — Relies on nuts for energy - **Shelter:** [Honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honeysuckle) (*Lonicera periclymenum*) — Uses dense growth for nests ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Hibernating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/hibernating): Hibernating animals enter a state of metabolic depression during cold periods or when food is scarce, characterized by reduced body temperature and activity. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Dormice are shy animals, so it's best to observe them from a distance and not disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dormouse? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Dormouse? 6-9 cm ### How much does Dormouse weigh? 0.015-0.04 kg ### How long does Dormouse live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Dormouse move? 8 km/h ### What does Dormouse eat? These tiny omnivores forage for juicy berries, crunchy nuts, sweet flowers, and small insects. ### Where is Dormouse usually found? Forests ### How does Dormouse hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Dormouse: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dormouse)