Hazel Dormouse

Muscardinus avellanarius

Hazel Dormouse

“ Once upon a time there were three little sisters,' the Dormouse began in a great hurry; 'and their names were Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie; and they lived at the bottom of a well. ”

– Lewis Carroll

Information

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Clade: Synapsida

Class: Mammalia

Order: Rodentia

Family: Gliridae

Subfamily: Leithiinae

Genus: Muscardinus

Species: Muscardinus avellanarius

Descendant: dormouse

Named by: Carl Linnaeus

Year Published: 1758

Size: 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in length; 30 to 40 grams (1.1 to 1.4 oz) in weight

Lifespan: 5+ years

Type: 

Title: n/a

Pantheon: Terran/Gaian

Time Period: Middle Miocene – Holocene

Alignment: Good

Threat Level: ★

Diet: Omnivorous 🌿🥩

Elements: n/a

Inflicts: n/a

Weaknesses: Fire, air, electric, ice, arcane, time, fae

Casualties: n/a

Based On: itself

Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC) - IUCN Red List

Hazel Dormouse or Common Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) is the species of dormouse found elsewhere in temperate forests in Eurasia.

Etymology

Concerning the dormouse's name, etymonline says "long-tailed Old World rodent noted for its state of semi-hibernation in winter, early 15c., possibly from Anglo-French dormouse 'tending to be dormant' (from stem of dormir 'to sleep,' see dormant), with the second element mistaken for mouse; or perhaps it is from a Middle English dialectal compound of mouse (n.) and Middle French dormir. French dormeuse, fem. of dormeur "sleeper" is attested only from 17c.

Physical Appearance

The hazel dormouse is the small dormouse based on their environment, before hibernation. This small mammal has reddish brown fur that can vary up to golden-brown or yellow-orange-brown becoming lighter in the lower part. Eyes are large and black. Ears are small and not very developed, while the tail is long and completely covered with hair.

Abilities

The hazel dormouse hibernates from October to April–May.

Ecology

It inhabits deciduous woodland, favouring forest edge, secondary growth, coppices, and other wooded areas with a dense shrubby understorey. It is also found in hedgerows in farmland. It is an arboreal feeder, foraging on flowers, insects and fruit.


Examination of hazelnuts may show a neat, round hole in the shell. This indicates it has been opened by a small rodent, e.g., the dormouse, wood mouse, or bank vole. Other animals, such as squirrels or jays, will either split the shell completely in half or make a jagged hole in it. Predation from Eurasian badger, fox, stoat, weasel, and domestic cat.


The common dormouse occurs in Europe and northern Asia Minor (Turkey). In continental Europe, it is fairly widespread, although it is absent from Iberia, south-west France, and northern parts of Fennoscandia and Russia. It is also absent from eastern Ukraine and southern Russia. Island populations occur in southern Britain and on Corfu and Sicily.

Behavior

Dormice will look for berries or crops that have been planted, which they will break and devour, or they will flee from big animals like humans. Food placed in chests offers little security since dormice will steal food from chests.

Distribution and Habitat

The hazel dormouse is native to northern Europe and Asia Minor. It is the only dormouse native to the British Isles.


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Lore

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Foreign Languages

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Chronological Appears

This species was found in every episode of Earth Responsibly Universe with the Frozen series, The Owl House, Assassin's Creed, Monster Hunter, The Avengers, Agents of Shield, Fantastic Four, Spiderman, Venom, Street Fighter, Z Nation, The Walking Dead, every movie in 20th Century Studios, Mobile Legends, and Star Wars as part of Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure and Tangled Movie.

Trivia