Thursday, 09 February 2012
Dormouse
Scientific Name:
Muscardinus avellanarius
Weight:
15-26g , up to 43g before winter hibernation
Lifespan:
up to 5 years Description
A small orange colured mammal which is declining in Britain. It is nocturnal and spends its entire life in the trees feeding on insects fruits and nuts. There are thought to be 80,000 dormice left in the UK.
Distribution
Mostly the southern counties but a few isolated populations in the Lake District.
Habitat
Ancient Hedgegrows and woodland.Mostly in Hazel trees.
Predators
Possibly Owls.
Reproduction
It constructs a ball like nest usually hidden amond ivy or Honeysuckle.
Status
80,000 in UK
Did You Know?
Dormice spend a lot of their life asleep!
Footprint Description
Fore foot has 4 digital pads, hind foot 5. Circular configuration of 6 interdigital pads on forefoot. Hindfoot has one interdigital pad, with 4 lobes. Hand outlines quite common where tracks are visible.
Footprint Size
fore foot - 1x0.8cm, hind foot 1.5x1.1cm. Stride around 7cm.