Tree sleeper (genus)
| Tree sleeper | ||||||||||||
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Tree Dormouse ( Dryomys nitedula ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dryomys | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1906 |
Tree dormice ( Dryomys ) are a genus in the family of the dormouse (Gliridae) with three species that occur in Eurasia .
features
The species reach a head-trunk length of 80 to 130 mm, a tail length of 60 to 113 mm and a weight of 18 to 34 g. They resemble the garden dormouse ( Eliomys ) in appearance, but have a rather uniformly colored tail that is slightly flattened and bushy. Furthermore, the genera differ in different details of the skull structure . In general, the top is gray-brown to yellow-brown in color, it is in contrast to the light brown to white underside. In the tree dormouse ( Dryomys nitedula ) and Pakistan tree dormouse, there is a black color around the eyes that is reminiscent of a mask.
Types and distribution
The genus includes the following species:
- The Turkish tree dormouse ( Dryomys laniger ), sometimes referred to as the rock dormouse , has several separate populations in the Taurus Mountains in Turkey .
- The Pakistan Tree Dormouse or Niethammer Tree Dormouse ( Dryomys niethammeri ) is endemic to a small area in the north of the Pakistani province of Balochistan .
- The tree dormouse ( Dryomys nitedula ) lives in large parts of the southern Palearctic from Switzerland in the west to western Mongolia in the east.
In older papers, the Chinese dormouse ( Chaetocauda sichuanensis ) was also included in the genus. Newer taxonomies list it in a separate genus.
Way of life
Tree sleepers use forests with more or less dense undergrowth and bushes as habitats . They live in the lowlands and in mountains up to 3500 meters above sea level and can adapt to cultural landscapes such as B. Customize gardens.
The species build nests of different designs, depending on their needs. Buildings used for a short time tend to be loose structures. The permanent nest for the warmer seasons as well as for the rearing of the young is round like a ball, has a diameter of 15 to 25 cm with a basic structure of twigs and leaves that is padded with tree bark and moss. It is usually 3 meters above the ground in a treetop, but can be found at heights of 1 to 7 meters. There are often multiple nests in a tree or in a limited area. For hibernation , tree sleepers usually seek out tree hollows, protected areas under roots or underground burrows that have been dug by other animals.
Like their relatives, these dormice are nocturnal. The seasonal activity depends on the area of distribution. In Europe, many specimens hibernate from October to April, while southern and eastern (Russia) populations are mostly active year round. Tree sleepers eat plant seeds, acorns , young shoots and fruits and, in summer, often invertebrates , young birds and bird eggs.
The mating season is also determined by the habitat. It extends in the south from March to December and in the northern areas from May to August. Depending on the length of the breeding season, a female has one to three litters a year. After 21 to 30 days of gestation , up to 7 young are born, mostly 2 to 5. They are blind at birth and weigh about 2 g. They open their eyes after about 16 days and are independent after four to five weeks.
supporting documents
- ^ Mary Ellen Holden-Musser, R. Juškaitis, GM Musser: Genus Dryomys. In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (Eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016, p. 885 -887, ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4 .
literature
- Mary Ellen Holden-Musser, R. Juškaitis, GM Musser: Genus Dryomys. In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (Eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016, p. 885 -887, ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4 .
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 2. p. 1631, Dryomys , 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Chaetocauda ).
Web links
- Dryomys on the2015 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Dryomys ).