Circadian activity of the fat dormouse Glis glis measured with camera traps at bait stations

Monitoring of small nocturnal and arboreal rodents is difficult and often conducted using indirect techniques. Here, we measured the circadian activity of the fat dormouse (Glis glis) directly using camera traps. The study took place at the Spitzberg in SW Germany. Data were collected using six Bushnell Natureview cameras with a macro lens at baited feeding stations. At 14 out of 41 active camera locations, edible dormice occurred. We collected 301 events between 8th July and 5th October 2018. There were 21.5 events per camera trap (SD 30.4), ranging from 1 to 82. The edible dormouse showed a nocturnal pattern, with a mean activity around midnight at 24:15 h. The pattern shows a slightly bimodal activity. Feeding activity started around or even slightly before sunset and stopped right before sunrise. The study shows that circadian activity, in this respect feeding activity, can be captured by camera trapping, which is a non-invasive method, and can be applied easily in the field.

A taxonomic revision of fat dormice, genus Glis (Rodentia)

We address in this study the taxonomic status of the two major phylogenetic lineages of fat dormice, genus Glis. These lineages show unique mutations at 43 positions of the cytochrome b alignment and are classified as two distinct species, the European fat dormouse Glis glis (Linnaeus, C. [1766]. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis synonymis, locis, Vol. 1. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm]) and the Iranian fat dormouse Glis persicus (Erxleben, I.C.P. [1777]. Systema regni animalis per classes, ordines, genera, species, varietates cum synonymia et historia animalium. Classis I. Mammalia. Impensis Weygandianis, Lipsia [Leipzig]). The European dormouse is widespread in Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus, while the Iranian dormouse occupies the southern Caspian coast in Iran. Ranges are presumably delimited in Azerbaijan by rivers Kura and Aras. The two species differ categorically in size of the glans penis, size and shape of the baculum and in width of the posterior extension of the premaxilla. The Iranian fat dormouse has on average a more blackish distal half of the tail, a higher count for abdominal nipples, and a longer maxillary tooth-row. Intraspecific structuring in G. glis indicates a taxonomic complexity which is not yet understood and requires a comprehensive systematic revision. To define the nominal taxon objectively we designate voucher PMS 27369 (Slovenian Museum of Natural History) as the neotype for G. glis, therefore restricting the type locality for the species to Mt. Krim in Slovenia.

Finds of the fat dormouse (Glis glis) in cave-type shelters in the Middle Dnister Region

The Middle Dnister Region (left bank and right bank of the Dnister from the mouth of the Zolota Lypa River in the northwest to the mouth of the Zbruch River in the southeast) has a complex geological structure and richness of geomorphological forms: limestone, gypsum and sandstone outcrops, travertine rocks and forms of karst origin. This determines the richness of the fauna of troglophilic species. This report presents cases of observation of the fat dormouse in cave-type shelters, both natural (karst caves, cavities in the outcrops of Albian and Cenomanian limestones and travertines) and artificial origin (abandoned basements, stone foundations, etc.). These facilities provide animals with shelters for rest and reproduction. They are usually located on hard-to-reach steep slopes in canyon-like river valleys, where the level of disturbance of animals during various phases of their daily activity and annual life cycle is minimized. An important factor in the existence of populations of the studied species is the combination between complex geomorphological objects that provide shelters and a rich forage base. This is determined by the presence of forest and other tree and shrub vegetation, which includes nut species (hazel, wild walnut trees, beech) and berry and stone species (turf, viburnum, black viburnum, cherry, thorn, barberry). The information presented here on records of the fat dormouse (Glis glis) is not the result of purposeful research but it was accumulated in the process of describing geomorphological objects. Further research using special techniques and appropriate instrumentation would allow us to expand our understanding of the ecological requirements of the fat dormouse to the conditions of existence, which would be the scientific basis for environmental management of this species. However, current data on 13 records at 11 sites also provide clarity on the use of shelters by dormice.

Anomalous coat colour in the fat dormouse (Glis glis): a review with new records

We reviewed the available records on aberrantly coloured fat dormice

Sexual size monomorphism and body variation in the fat dormouse Glis glis in Slovakia

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) of the fat dormouse