Maghreb garden dormouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maghreb garden dormouse |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eliomys
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| Species: |
munbyanus
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| Distribution of Eliomys munbyanus | |
| Synonyms | |
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Eliomys denticulatus (Ranck, 1968), Eliomys lerotina (Lataste, 1885), Eliomys occidentalis (Thomas, 1903), Eliomys tunetae (Thomas, 1903) |
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The Maghreb garden dormouse (Eliomys munbyanus) is a small, furry animal. It is a type of rodent that is mostly active at night, which means it is nocturnal. This dormouse belongs to the Gliridae family.
You can find this animal in several countries in North Africa. These include Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. It lives in many different places, from wet forests to very dry, sandy areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says it is a common species. Because of this, its conservation status is "least concern". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
What Does It Look Like?
The Maghreb garden dormouse is a medium-sized animal. It has soft fur that can sometimes feel a bit woolly. Its fur is usually yellowish or reddish-brown on its back. This color often has a hint of grey.
Its belly and underside are white, also with a touch of grey. There is a clear line where the two colors meet. The top of its head matches its back. However, the color gets lighter closer to its nose.
Face and Ears
This dormouse has large eyes. A dark patch of fur surrounds its eyes, like a mask. Its cheeks are whitish or cream-colored. A stripe of this same light color goes all the way to its shoulders.
Its ears are medium-sized and oval. They are brown. You can often see a reddish or pale patch of bare skin right behind its ears.
Its Tail
The tail of the Maghreb garden dormouse is long. It has short hair, but its color can vary a lot. The top of the tail is usually black. The underside is often pale grey or brownish-white.
The part of the tail closest to its body is similar in color to its fur. The very tip of the tail has longer hairs than the rest. This tip is usually white.
Where Does It Live?
The Maghreb garden dormouse is native to North Africa. It lives in Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. You can find it from sea level all the way up to high mountains. It lives at altitudes of about 3,800 meters (12,467 feet) in the High Atlas Mountains.
This dormouse lives in many different types of places. These include humid forests and pine forests. It also lives in mountain cedar forests and sandy coastal dunes. Sometimes, it even lives in semi-desert areas. It might even enter people's homes. It seems to especially like places with lots of rocks.
