Dormice: Myoxidae

Dormice look a lot like squirrels or chipmunks. Their fur is thick and soft and most species have long, bushy tails. Their tails help them to balance. Species are different sizes, but their average head and body length falls into the range of 1.6 to 8 inches (4.1 to 20.3 centimeters), their tail length ranges from 1.5 to 6.5 inches (3.8 to 16.5 centimeters), and they weigh from 0.5 to 7 ounces (15 to 200 grams). They are nocturnal, active at night, so they have large eyes and sensitive vibrissae, stiff hairs that can be found near the nostrils or other parts of the face in many mammals. They can also hear very well. These traits help them to function at night. Dormice also live in trees, so they have pads on the soles of their feet and strong, short curved claws on their four front toes and five hind toes so that they can grab onto the trees. Both their legs and toes are short. They can also hang upside down from branches by turning their hind feet backwards and grabbing onto the branches.