Eliomys quercinus
garden dormouse

Eliomys quercinus is found throughout Europe to Asia to North Africa. It is also found in Finland. Garden dormice were introduced into Britian by the Romans in the first century, probably for culinary uses. (Nowak, 1999)

Eliomys quercinus lives in steepe deserts, hollow trees, rock crevices, and human dwellings. Although they are highly arboreal, they are occasionally found in swamplands. The common name "garden dormouse" is misleading because of the variety of habitats in which these rodents are found.

Garden dormice also live near human developments.

They may live in shelters made from birds' nests, rock, or trees. (Nowak, 1999)

Eliomys quercinus has a body length of 100 to 175 mm. The tail length is 90 to 135 mm, and the body mass is from 45 to 120 g. Eliomys quercinus has a long, bushy tail. The tails of European dormice have brown, black and white coloration on them. Asian and African specimens have black and white tails. Garden dormice have short fur except for the tail. The fur on the upper surface of dormice may be any color of gray or brown. The underside may show white or cream coloration. There are black markings on the face of garden dormice. This characteristic is used to distinguish this species from other species such as hazel dormice. The black stripe goes from the nose to behind the ear. There are eight mammae on female E. quercinus. (Burton and Burton, 1969; Lawlor, 1974; Nowak, 1999; van den Brink, 1968)

Young garden dormice are born naked and blind (Burton, 1969). The altricial young open their eyes at three weeks of age (Nowak, 1991).

Information on the mating system of these animals is not available.

The polyestrus E. quercinus has a breeding season from May to October in areas of Europe and Morocco. In other parts of Europe the breeding season has peaks in March to May, and in August to October. The first breeding episode of the season begins shortly after emergence from hibernation. Females enter heat every 10 days during the breeding season.

A litter consists of two to eight offspring, which are born after a gestation period of 22 to 28 days. Young E. quercinus are born in a nest which is larger than the sleeping nests typical of this species. There is usually only one litter born to a female each year.

Eliomys quercinus form a vaginal plug after mating. (Asdell, 1964; Burton and Burton, 1969; Nowak, 1999)

As in all mammals, females care for the young, providing them with milk and shelter until they are independent. Specifics on the parental behavior of this species are lacking, so it is not know whether males interact with their offspring.

The lifespan of E. quercinus can reach five and a half years in captivity. No information is available for species in the wild. (Nowak, 1999)

Garden dormice are nocturnal. They may hibernate for up to seven months in the winter. Before hibernation, dormice put on weight to last the duration of the long hibernation. Dormice curl into a ball before hibernation. When dormice enter the dormant stage, their sleep is so deep that they can be rolled over without waking. Even during daily naps dormice are difficult to wake. When October comes, the daily naps increase in length until the animal enters a dormant state.

Garden dormice may take over bird or squirrel nests. If they build a nest from scratch, it may contain leaves and grass. Because garden dormice live in a variety of habitats, they can be found both in the trees and on the ground. If arboreal, the compact nest will be 0.8-3.0 meters above the ground.

Eliomys quercinus is social, with common feeding and sleeping sites. When mating season comes, they fight in the common areas, but during the rest of the year show little aggression, even between groups. (Burton and Burton, 1969; Feldhamer, et al., 1999; Nowak, 1999)

Information on the home range size of these animals is not available.

Eliomys quercinus communicate using vocalizations, including whistles, growls, or snores. They are reported to be very noisy animals.

In addition to vocal communication, it is likely that there are some forms of tactile communication, between mothers and their young, between mates, and possibly within social groups. (Nowak, 1999; van den Brink, 1968)

Garden dormice are more carnivorous than any other dormice species, including other small mammals, insects, snails and baby birds. Other foods include fruit, hazel nuts, chestnuts, acorns, pine seeds, bark, and eggs.

Garden dormice have a simple digestive tract, suggesting they do not eat much cellulose.

Garden dormice cache food in burrows. (Feldhamer, et al., 1999; Lawlor, 1974; Nowak, 1999)

A variety of animals prey upon dormice. Among these are mustelids, crows, magpies, and foxes. Peak mortality occurs during hibernation, when up to four out of five are captured by burrow predators. (Burton and Burton, 1969)

Eliomys quercinus may displace birds when they take over the nest site to use it. They may also affect bird populations by eating chicks. (Walker, 1964)

These animals are likely to be important in local food webs, acting both as predators and prey to a variety of other animals, thereby affecting their populations.

Because E. quercinus caches food, it probably plays some role in dispersing seeds.

Eliomys quercinus were used for food in Britain during the Roman Empire, as indicated by archeological evidence. (Nowak, 1999)

Eliomys quercinus is a pest in fruit orchards in Europe. (Burton and Burton, 1969)

Garden dormice have an IUCN status of 'Vulnerable'. E. quercinus is endangered in parts of Europe and Finland due to deforestation in these areas. (Nowak, 1999)

Eliomys quercinus is able to regenerate its tail if it is somehow removed. Family Myoxidae, of which E. quercinus is a member, used to be classified as Family Gliridae. (Feldhamer, et al., 1999; Lawlor, 1974)