Common dormouse, Hazel mouse
The hazel dormouse or common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius ) is a small mammal and the only living species in the genus Muscardinus.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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NectarivoreIn zoology, a nectarivore is an animal that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of the sugar-...
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PalynivoreIn zoology, a palynivore is an herbivorous animal that selectively eats the nutrient-rich pollen produced by angiosperms and gymnosperms. Most true...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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PollinatorA pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower. This helps to bring about fertilizat...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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Tiny AnimalsThe Hazel dormouse is a small, cute rodent with considerably large eyes as a result of its nocturnal lifestyle. The coloration of the fur is bright golden on the back and pale creamy on the underside. This dormouse differs from mice by the characteristic long, fluffy tail.
The Hazel dormouse is the only species of dormouse, native to Britain, where this animal mainly occurs in the south of England and Wales. The natural range of this species stretches all across Europe from the Ural Mountains in the east to the Mediterranean in the south. The ideal habitat of this rodent is Hazel coppice, although the animal may live in a variety of environments such as dense, deciduous woodland or thick shrubbery. The spherical nests of the Hazel dormouse are located a few feet above the ground and constructed out of grass and honeysuckle bark.
The Hazel dormouse is a solitary and strictly nocturnal animal. Males of this species are known to aggressively defend their home ranges against each other during the mating season. This rodent typically spends its daytime hours in a spherical nest, placed approximately two meters above the ground and built from grasses, stripped bark, and moss that is held together by sticky saliva. The nighttime hours are spent traveling in trees in search of food. The Hazel dormice undergo annual hibernation, remaining in this state for up to 7 months per year. As the weather gets cold in October, they choose a favorable place to construct their nest, where these animals will curl up and sleep until spring, waking up only in April. Hibernation is a state of extreme torpor, during which the functions of their body drop, although they are still able to feel cold and touch, and may even wake up when touched. In addition, they regularly wake up during this long period, typically for a few hours at a time.
As a granivore, the Hazel dormouse particularly enjoys eating hazelnuts. However, this rodent feeds upon a wide variety of food such as fruits, flowers, nectar, pollen, eggs of birds, fledglings as well as occasional insects.
There is no information on the mating system of this species. However, as they live solitary and males are very territorial, it may mean these animals are probably polygynous. They breed between May and September and can breed twice during this period. Females generally produce young between June and early July and from the end of July to August. Gestation in this species lasts for 24 days, yielding a litter of up to 7 young with an average of 3-4. The babies are born with closed eyes, which open at approximately 3 weeks old. Independence is reached at 5 weeks old and the young become reproductively mature only by the summer after their first hibernation.
Populations in the northern parts of their range suffer from the fragmentation of their natural habitat due to forestry as well as agricultural and urbanization development that negatively impact the numbers of local populations.
According to IUCN, the Hazel dormouse is relatively common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Due to feeding upon flower pollen, this dormouse greatly contributes to pollination. In addition, this rodent is a key summer prey for raptors and an important winter prey for other predators such as red fox and wild boar.
