Fat dormouse
The fat dormouse, also known as the edible dormouse, is a sizable rodent belonging to the Gliridae family. With a body length ranging from 5.5 to 7.5 inches and a tail nearly equal in length, these creatures are recognized for their soft, thick fur, which varies from silverish to brownish-gray. Found in woodland areas, orchards, and gardens across eastern, central, and southern Europe and Asia Minor, fat dormice are nocturnal and usually remain close to their nests. Their diet primarily consists of fruits such as gooseberries, cherries, and plums, along with nuts and insects, enabling them to gain significant weight before entering hibernation during winter months. Mating occurs in the summer, with females typically giving birth to one litter of two to six young each year after a gestation of 21 to 32 days. Historically, these dormice were consumed by the Romans, which highlights their cultural significance as well as their palatable nature due to their fruit-rich diet. With a lifespan spanning six to twelve years, the fat dormouse continues to thrive in its natural habitats.
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Fat dormouse
Fat dormice, also called edible dormice, are much larger than common dormice. They enjoy eating gooseberries, cherries, pears, apples, plums, apricots, grapes, and pumpkin seeds.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Gliridae
Genus: Glis
Species: Glis
The fat dormouse is much larger than its relative the common dormouse. It has a short, soft, thick coat of silverish to brownish-gray fur, with paler fur on its underside. The fat dormouse has whiskers that help it find its way around. The bushy tail of the fat dormouse is almost as long as its body. They grow to a head and body length of 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 inches (14 to 19 centimeters) with a tail of up to 7 1/2 inches (19 centimeters). They weigh between 4 1/5 to 5 1/3 ounces (120 to 150 grams).
Fat dormice live in woodland areas, orchards, and gardens in eastern, central, and southern Europe and Asia Minor. They are nocturnal and rarely go far from their nests.
Fat dormice eat fruits, nuts, insects, bird eggs, and young birds. The fat dormouse hibernates, or sleeps, through the winter. During the summer and early fall, they eat enough to double their weight to help them survive the winter.
The mating season for the fat dormouse occurs in the summer. The gestation period (duration of pregnancy) is 21 to 32 days. The females then give birth to a litter of two to six young. Females usually have one litter each year.
The Romans ate fat dormice, which gave them their name. They taste good because of their diet of nuts and fruit.
The fat dormouse has a life span of between six and twelve years.
Bibliography
Fitzke, Katie. "Glis Glis." Animal Diversity Web, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Glis‗glis. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.