Small-eared dormouse (Graphiurus microtis)

Range and distribution

The small-eared dormouse has a broad but patchy range across southern and eastern Africa. It is recorded from a number of countries where suitable habitat occurs, including:

• Angola
• Botswana
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• South Africa
• Sudan
• Eswatini
• Tanzania
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Habitat and behavior

This dormouse occupies a variety of habitats where trees, shrubs or rocky crevices provide shelter: dry and moist woodlands, riverine thickets, savanna patches and sometimes human-modified areas near settlements. Primarily nocturnal, it forages at night for fruit, seeds, insects and other small invertebrates. During the day it rests in nests, tree hollows or crevices, often lining a nest with plant material.

Appearance and life history

The small-eared dormouse is characterized by a compact body, a tail that is often bushy or slightly tufted, and ears that are less prominent than in some related species. Fur color ranges from greyish to brown on the back with paler underparts, which helps with camouflage. Breeding patterns vary across its range but typically produce small litters; juveniles develop rapidly to cope with predation and seasonal changes in food availability.

Ecological role and conservation

As an omnivore and seed consumer, this dormouse contributes to seed predation and dispersal and forms part of the prey base for owls, snakes and small carnivores. It is generally not regarded as highly threatened and is often assessed as of low conservation concern, but local populations can be affected by habitat loss, fragmentation and changes in fire regime. Because it is secretive and nocturnal, detailed population data are limited in parts of its range.

For further general information on dormice and related species, consult regional mammal guides and specialist sources represented here and elsewhere: rodent families overview and country-level faunal accounts linked above.