| Japanese Dormouse | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Gliridae |
| Subfamily: | Glirinae |
| Genus: | Glirulus Thomas, 1906 |
| Species: | G. japonicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Glirulus japonicus (Schinz, 1845) |
|
The Japanese Dormouse (Glirulus japonicus) is a species of rodent in the Gliridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Glirulus. It is endemic to Japan. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. In Japanese it is called Yamane (山鼠). Among dormice, it has the special ability of running at great speed upside down, suspended from branches. Its main food is nectar or pollen, although nursing females will eat small insects.