Japanese dormouse

The Japanese dormouse (Glirulus japonicus) is a species of rodent in the Gliridae family. It is the only species in the genus Glirulus. It is endemic to Japan. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. In Japanese it is called Yamane (山鼠). It has the special ability of running at great speed upside down, underneath branches. Its main food is nectar or pollen, although nursing females will eat small insects.

Japanese dormouse
ヤマネGlirulus japonicus.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
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Glirulus

Thomas, 1906
Binomial name
Glirulus japonicus
(Schinz, 1845)

References

  • Holden M.E. 2005. Family Gliridae. pp. 819–841 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D.E. Wilson and D.M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
  • Ishii N. & Kaneko Y. (2008). Glirulus japonicus. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 4 Jan 2009.