Asian garden dormouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Asian garden dormouse |
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| Eliomys melanurus (Wagner, 1839)
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The Asian garden dormouse (Eliomys melanurus) is a small, furry rodent that belongs to the dormouse family. It's known for its cute appearance and its ability to live in many different places. These little creatures are found across a wide area, from North Africa to parts of Asia.
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What is an Asian Garden Dormouse?
The Asian garden dormouse is a type of mammal. It is part of the rodent group, which includes animals like mice, rats, and squirrels. Dormice are often mistaken for mice, but they are actually a separate family. They are known for being quite active, especially at night.
Where Do They Live?
Asian garden dormice live in many countries. You can find them in North Africa, including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. They also live in parts of the Middle East and Asia. This includes countries like Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.
What is Their Home Like?
These dormice are very good at adapting to different environments. Their natural habitats include:
- Temperate forests: These are forests with moderate temperatures.
- Dry shrubland: Areas with lots of bushes and shrubs, but not much water.
- Subtropical or tropical areas: Places that are warm all year round.
- Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation: This means areas with tough, bushy plants, similar to those found around the Mediterranean Sea.
- Rocky areas: Places with many rocks and boulders, which can offer good hiding spots.
This wide range of habitats shows how tough and flexible the Asian garden dormouse can be. They can make a home in many different types of landscapes.
Classification of the Asian Garden Dormouse
All living things are grouped by scientists to help us understand them better. This is called classification. The Asian garden dormouse has its own special place in this system.
Animal Kingdom
The Asian garden dormouse is part of the Animalia kingdom. This means it is an animal, not a plant or a fungus. Animals are living things that can move and eat other organisms.
Chordates and Mammals
It belongs to the Chordata phylum. This group includes animals with a backbone, like fish, birds, and mammals. The dormouse is also in the Mammalia class. Mammals are warm-blooded animals that usually have fur or hair. Female mammals also produce milk to feed their babies.
Rodents and Dormice
Within the mammals, the Asian garden dormouse is part of the Rodentia order. This is the largest group of mammals, known for their strong front teeth that keep growing. Finally, it belongs to the Gliridae family. This family includes all the different kinds of dormice. The specific type of dormouse is Eliomys melanurus.
Conservation Status
The Asian garden dormouse is currently listed as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means that, for now, its population is stable and it is not considered to be at high risk of disappearing. However, scientists continue to monitor animal populations to make sure they stay healthy.
See also
In Spanish: Eliomys melanurus para niños
Further Reading
- Aulagnier S. 2004. Eliomys melanurus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 July 2007.
- Holden M.E. 2005. Family Gliridae, 819-841 in Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. D.E. Wilson and D.M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
