The Sleepy Dormouse

Product Information

The edible dormouse was thought to be a special food in ancient Rome. It was eaten as an appetizer or as a dessert. When it was eaten as a dessert, it would be dipped in honey and poppy seeds. The Romans had a special place to keep dormice which was called a glirarium. [2] Dormice are still eaten in Slovenia, and apparently also by the Mafia. [4] [5] Dormouse fat was used by the Elizabethans to induce sleep. [6] Evolution [ change | change source ]

The dormouse population is actually declining in numbers, but also declining in its range, in the UK. In fact, numbers have dropped by a third since the start of the 21st century. When it comes to moving or hand-taming dormouse it can be very difficult as they are so agile and fast and can easily escape through your hands.The edible dormouse ( Glis glis) was considered a delicacy in ancient Rome, either as a savoury appetizer or as a dessert (dipped in honey and poppy seeds). The Romans used a special kind of enclosure, a glirarium, to raise and fatten dormice for the table. [6] It is still considered a delicacy in Slovenia and in several places in Croatia, namely Lika, and the islands of Hvar and Brač. [7] [8] Dormouse fat was believed by the Elizabethans to induce sleep since the animal put on fat before hibernating. [9]

The Dormouse appears in the live-action TV series Adventures in Wonderland, and is voiced by John Lovelady. He isn't sleepy, and is often seen popping out of his tea pot or other things. In one episode, he is the announcer of a sprinting event. A dormouse will not forage for more than 230 feet, (70 meters) from its nest. And when the weather doesn’t support them enough to find food, the dormice will remain in their nests and go into a state of “torpor” (a state of physical and mental inactivity) like a mini hibernation.Sleeping Beauty: Aurora • Phillip • Maleficent • Flora • Fauna • Merryweather • Diablo • Samson • King Stefan • Goon • Owl • Rabbit Wedgwood, Hensleigh (1855). "On False Etymologies". Transactions of the Philological Society (6): 66. If you were to keep on as a pet, then Dormice can make pretty good pets. But monitoring and taking care of them can be very difficult and so may not be ideal for children. When having a dormouse as a pet many things need to be considered.

Dormice are fully protected by law and it’s a crime to disturb, injure, or kill them in their nests, or collect, trap or sell them without a licence. Numbers of hazel dormice are dangerously low and have been declining over the last 100 years. The hazel dormouse population is now down to around 45,000 and has become extinct in seven counties in north and east England.

Storch, G.; Seiffert, C. (2007). "Extraordinarily preserved specimen of the oldest known glirid from the middle Eocene of Messel (Rodentia)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27 (1): 189–194. doi: 10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[189:EPSOTO]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 85909806. This is easily identifiable, as other types of mice and voles feed through hazle nuts from outwards – to the center, making the rim look like the milled edge of a coin. Dormouse habitat

Holden, M. E. (2005). "Family Gliridae". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp.819–841. In addition, there is a Chain based off of the Dormouse in the anime Pandora Hearts. It is in a legal contract with Vincent Nightray, and takes the appearance of a large mouse with a wind up key in its side, and a large chain like tail that winds around its contractor. In addition it causes Vincent to fall asleep if he lets his guard down. The dwarf fat-tailed lemur of Madagascar is the only known primate to aestivate; it lives off fat reserves in its tail during a long dry season.Season Three: " The Heart of the Truest Believer" • " Lost Girl" • " Quite a Common Fairy" • " Nasty Habits" • " Good Form" • " Ariel" • " Dark Hollow" • " Think Lovely Thoughts" • " Save Henry" • " The New Neverland" • " Going Home" • " New York City Serenade" • " Witch Hunt" • " The Tower" • " Quiet Minds" • " It's Not Easy Being Green" • " The Jolly Roger" • " Bleeding Through" • " A Curious Thing" • " Kansas" • " Snow Drifts" • " There's No Place Like Home"