Mammals · Rodentia · Gliridae

Fat Dormouse

Glis glis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It was eaten as a delicacy by the ancient Romans, who fattened them in special enclosures called gliraria. It can skip breeding altogether in a poor seed year, which contributes to its unusual longevity.

Weight

100 g – 150 g

Size

14 cm – 19 cm

Lifespan

9 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestOmnivore Nocturnal Solitary Temperate forest Mammal

45countries 169parks1same family

Fun facts

fisiologíaIn some populations it can hibernate for as much as 11 months a year, one of the longest hibernations known in any mammal.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Deciduous woodland, orchards and gardens of central and southern Europe and parts of Asia Minor
Birth weight: 1.5 grams
Size at birth: Blind and hairless at birth
Sexual maturity: ~1 year (some sources give 6-9 weeks in good conditions, coming out of hibernation in a good harvest year)
Gestation / incubation: 20-32 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 12 young per litter (most commonly 4-6)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 8.7 years in captivity