| Leithiinae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dryomys nitedula | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Gliridae |
| Subfamily: | Leithiinae Lydekker, 1896 |
| Genera | |
Chaetocauda | |
Leithiinae is a subfamily of dormice. It is named after the Leithia , an extinct genus of giant dormouse from the Pleistocene of Sicily.
Subfamily Leithiinae
A dormouse is a rodent of the family Gliridae. Dormice are nocturnal animals found in Africa, Asia, and Europe, and are particularly known for their long periods of hibernation.
The desert dormouse is a species of rodent in the dormouse family, Gliridae. This species was formerly placed in its own family, Seleviniidae, but it is now considered to be a dormouse, monotypic within the genus Selevinia. It is endemic to Kazakhstan.
The forest dormouse is a species of rodent in the family Gliridae found in eastern Europe, the Balkans and parts of western Central Asia. It is categorized as being of least concern in the IUCN List of Threatened Species due to its wide range and stable population trend. Forest dormice have a diploid count (2n) of 48 chromosomes. Even though this species lives in a variety of geographic locations, its greatest population density is in the forests of central Moldova, in Transcaucasia, and in the mountains of Central Asia. In most other locations, population density of this species is rather low. Population density is dependent on many factors. But the main features that this species depends on for choosing a location are the presence of the appropriate food sources as well as good foliage that can be used for a habitat. The reason why the forests in central Moldova have the highest population density is they provide the largest diversity of food sources which are available throughout the year. This location also provides the best type of foliage for the forest dormice to build their nests as well as swing from branches. The combination of both of these aspects allows for this species to have its highest needs met. Therefore, during mating season they produce offspring who also stay in the same general area when they mature. It makes sense not to move from an area if it is providing for your most basic needs.
Hypnomys, otherwise known as Balearic giant dormice, is an extinct genus of dormouse, from the family Gliridae and subfamily Leithiinae. Its species are considered examples of insular gigantism. They were endemic to the Balearic Islands, initially they were confined to Mallorca, but later spread to Menorca, and a possible molar is also known from Ibiza. They first appeared in the fossil record on Mallorca during the Early Pliocene, presumably due to the Messinian salinity crisis causing a connection with mainland Europe, and disappear during the Holocene after human arrival on the Balearics. They were only of only three native land mammals to the islands at the time of human arrival, alongside Nesiotites and Myotragus. A 2020 mitochondrial DNA analysis found that its closest living relative was Eliomys, from which it diverged around 13.67 million years ago.
Leithia is a genus of extinct giant dormice from the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Sicily. It is considered an example of island gigantism. Leithia melitensis is the largest known species of dormouse, living or extinct, being twice the size of any other known species.
 | This article about a rodent is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |