Gliridae - dormice, hazel mice

There are 28 species in this family. They are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Most dormice look like small squirrels or mice. They are small to medium-sized rodents with soft, thick fur; rounded ears; big eyes; short legs; clawed feet; and most species have bushy tails.

Dormice usually have two litters a year, in the spring and in the summer. Litter size is between 2-10 young.

Most dormice species are arboreal and spend most of their time in trees. Species found in colder climates may hibernate in the winter. Dormice eat fruit, nuts, seeds, invertebrates, birds, and eggs.

The dormouse is a famous character in Lewis Carrol's book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland! In the famous tea party scene, the dormouse keeps falling asleep.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Other Species Around the World
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH
Sichuan Dormouse - Chaetocauda sichuanensis Woolly Dormouse - Dryomys laniger Baluchistan Forest Dormouse - Dryomys niethammeri Forest Dormouse - Dryomys nitedula Asian Garden Dormouse - Eliomys melanurus Maghreb Garden Dormouse - Eliomys munbyanus Garden Dormouse - Eliomys quercinus Japanese Dormouse - Glirulus japonicus Edible Dormouse - Glis glis Angolan African Dormouse - Graphiurus angolensis Christy's Dormouse - Graphiurus christyi Jentink's Dormouse - Graphiurus crassicaudatus Johnston's African Dormouse - Graphiurus johnstoni Kellen's Dormouse - Graphiurus kelleni		Lorrain Dormouse - Graphiurus lorraineus Small-eared Dormouse - Graphiurus microtis Monard's Dormouse - Graphiurus monardi Woodland Dormouse - Graphiurus murinus Nagtglas's African Dormouse - Graphiurus nagtglasii Spectacled Dormouse - Graphiurus ocularis Rock Dormouse - Graphiurus platyops Stone Dormouse - Graphiurus rupicola Silent Dormouse - Graphiurus surdus Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius Masked Mouse-tailed Dormouse - Myomimus personatus Roach's Mouse-tailed Dormouse - Myomimus roachi Setzer's Mouse-tailed Dormouse - Myomimus setzeri Desert Dormouse - Selevinia betpakdalaensis

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Asian Garden Dormouse - Eliomys melanurus
The Asian garden dormouse is found in Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Edible Dormouse - Glis glis
The edible dormouse is also knonw as the fat dormouse. It is found throughout much of central and southern Europe through northern Turkey to the Caucasus, northern Iran and Turkmenistan.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Edible Dormouse - Glis glis
The edible dormouse looks like a gray squirrel.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Forest Dormouse - Dryomys nitedula
Forest dormice are found in dense forests from Switzerland in the west through eastern and southern Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus to central Russia and central Asia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Garden Dormouse - Eliomys quercinus
Garden dormice are found found throughout Europe to Asia and North Africa.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
The hazel dormouse is also known as the common dormouse.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
The hazel dormouse is found in deciduous forests in much of Europe as well as northern Asia Minor.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
The hazel dormouse is the smallest species of dormouse.
Source: Paignton Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary School

Japanese Dormouse - Glirulus japonicus
Japanese dormice are found on the islands of Honshuu, Shikoku, and Kyuushuu in Japan.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Woodland Dormouse - Graphiurus murinus
Woodland dormice are found in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School