Chester Zoo 

African Dormouse

There are 14 species of African Dormice living in Africa, including the Pygmy Dormouse, Spectacled Dormouse, Woodland Dormouse, Rock Dormouse, Lorrain Dormouse and Angolan Dormouse. They are generally a greyish brown to dark grey colour with lighter undersides and black and white markings around the face. Their colour pattern varies according to the geographical location in which they live. They have large round ears and large black eyes positioned on the front of their flattish-shaped heads. They have long fluffy tails which can be as long as the rest of the body, tiny toes and claws on flexible feet which can turn completely backwards, helping these animals to be extremely agile.

What they eat

Fruit, seeds, eggs, lizards, insects.

How long they live

5 – 6 years.

Biology

These are mainly nocturnal tree-dwelling creatures, which shelter amid vegetation for most of the day, often building nests in tree hollows or among stone crops. Females are more social than males, often interacting in groups, while males can be more solitary. Females produce young several times a year, with the gestation period lasting about a month. Each litter has two to five young, which are fully developed and independent by about five weeks of age.

Did you know?

The Dormouse gets its name from the French word ‘dormir’ which means ‘to sleep’ and the name is derived from the fact it spends much of the day sleeping.