Majorcan Giant Dormouse
Encyclopedia
The Majorcan Giant Dormouse, scientifically known as Hypnomys morphaeus or Eliomys morpheus (Majorca, Spain
), is an extinct animal from Europe
. It is considered an example of island gigantism
. The closest extant relative is considered to be the garden dormouse
, genus Eliomys
. It is believed to have had an omnivorous diet, and may have been terrestrial rather than arboreal. The arrival of humans on the island is believed to have been a major factor in its extinction. It was described by the palaeontologist Dorothea Bate
in 1919. A 2011 study estimated its body weight as between 173 and 284 g and a head and body length of 179 mm and a total body length of 295 mm .
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), is an extinct animal from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It is considered an example of island gigantism
Island gigantism
Island gigantism or insular giantism is a biological phenomenon in which the size of animals isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to their mainland relatives....
. The closest extant relative is considered to be the garden dormouse
Dormouse
Dormice are rodents of the family Gliridae. Dormice are mostly found in Europe, although some live in Africa and Asia. They are particularly known for their long periods of hibernation...
, genus Eliomys
Eliomys
Eliomys is a genus of rodent in the Gliridae family.It contains the following species:* Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus* Maghreb Garden Dormouse, Eliomys munbyanus* Garden Dormouse, Eliomys quercinus-References:...
. It is believed to have had an omnivorous diet, and may have been terrestrial rather than arboreal. The arrival of humans on the island is believed to have been a major factor in its extinction. It was described by the palaeontologist Dorothea Bate
Dorothea Bate
Dorothea Minola Alice Bate FGS , also known as Dorothy Bate, was a British palaeontologist, a pioneer of archaeozoology...
in 1919. A 2011 study estimated its body weight as between 173 and 284 g and a head and body length of 179 mm and a total body length of 295 mm .