Graphiurus

African dormouse ( Graphiurus ( murinus? ) )

The African dormice or Pinselschwanzbilche ( Graphiurus ) are arboreal nocturnal animals of the African rain forests and savannas. Although some zoologists consider them a separate family, they are classified by most in the Bilchen, with whom they have much in common and externally.

The body length is 7 to 16 cm, added a 5 to 13 cm long tail. The typical color is gray on the upper side and lower side white, with black and white drawings in the face mask. There are, however, from species to species different variations on this basic pattern.

African dormice keep in rainforests on almost exclusively in the branches; the species that inhabit the savannas, are frequently encountered, however, also on the ground when they run from one tree to the next. As omnivores they at night looking for fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, bird eggs and young birds.

Previously invaded some of these dormice also in human dwellings and lived there on Save and attics. Today, they have largely disappeared by the competition of entrained brown rat from human settlements.

The following 14 species are included in this genus:

  • Savannenbilch, Graphiurus parvus, West Africa, Sahel, East Africa
  • Olga's dormouse, Graphiurus olga, Niger, Cameroon
  • Kellens dormouse, Graphiurus kelleni, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe
  • African Waldbilch, Graphiurus murinus, Eastern and Southern Africa
  • Small ear - dormouse, Graphiurus Microtis, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi
  • Lorrain dormouse, Graphiurus lorraineus, West and Central Africa
  • Christy dormouse, Graphiurus christyi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Graphiurus surdus, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea
  • Jentinks dormouse, Graphiurus crassicaudatus, West Africa
  • African Felsenbilch, Graphiurus platyops, southern Africa
  • African Steinbilch, Graphiurus rupicola, South Africa, Namibia
  • Huet's dormouse, Graphiurus hueti, West and Central Africa
  • Monards dormouse, Graphiurus monardi, DR Congo, Angola, Zambia
  • Brillenbilch, Graphiurus ocularis, South Africa
Euarchontoglires Tropical rainforest
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