African dormouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids African dormouse Temporal range: late Pliocene to Recent
African Dormouse, Graphiurus spec. (murinus?)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Gliridae
Subfamily:	Graphiurinae Winge, 1887
Genus:	Graphiurus Smuts, 1832

The African dormouse, known scientifically as Graphiurus, is a small, furry creature found all over sub-Saharan Africa. These amazing animals are part of the dormouse family. They are known for being excellent climbers and have lovely bushy tails. African dormice mostly eat small invertebrates (like insects) and sometimes tiny vertebrates (like small lizards). They live in many different places, from forests to grasslands.

Types of African Dormice

There are many different kinds of African dormice, each with its own unique features. Here are some of the known species:

• Graphiurus angolensis - Angolan African dormouse
• Graphiurus christyi - Christy's dormouse
• Graphiurus crassicaudatus - Jentink's dormouse
• Graphiurus johnstoni - Jouhnston's African dormouse
• Graphiurus kelleni - Kellen's dormouse
• Graphiurus lorraineus - Lorrain dormouse
• Graphiurus microtis - Small-eared dormouse
• Graphiurus monardi - Monard's dormouse
• Graphiurus murinus - Woodland dormouse
• Graphiurus nagtglasii - Nagtglas's African dormouse
• Graphiurus ocularis - Spectacled dormouse
• Graphiurus platyops - Rock dormouse
• Graphiurus rupicola - Stone dormouse
• Graphiurus surdus - Silent dormouse
• Graphiurus walterverheyeni

Gallery

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  Graphiurus sp.(probably murinus) - three males in a knot-hole

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  Graphiurus sp.(probably murinus) - male, look at the "bushy tail"

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  Graphiurus sp. (probably murinus) - two adults eating a nectarine (compare size!)