A rare mammal species discovered at the foot of Mount Taygetos was featured in a video by the online channel Wild Nature of Greece.

It is the forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), resembling a small squirrel. The first part of its scientific name (Dryomys) comes from the Greek words for “oak” (drys) and “mouse” (mys), describing a type of “mouse” found in oak trees, while the second part (nitedula) is a Latin term referring to this animal. The common Greek name (Δενδρομυωξός) is also a compound of “tree + mouse + beech,” again describing a “mouse” living in oak forests.

“We Found a Very Rare Mammal Almost Nobody Knows About!”

According to the Management Body of Mount Parnona and Moustos Wetland, the species is distributed across Eastern Europe and mainland Greece. Its body length reaches up to 13 cm, its tail up to 9.5 cm, and it weighs up to 60 grams. Its body is elongated and cylindrical, with the head connected seamlessly to the torso.

It inhabits a variety of habitats, such as deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests. Nocturnal by nature, it builds nests in tree cavities, among branches, or in rock crevices, weaving them with hairs, feathers, moss, and plants. It is mainly herbivorous, feeding on fruits, nuts, lichens, and roots, but it also eats insects and larvae. During the winter, it hibernates depending on the severity and duration of the season in each region.

The protection of the forest dormouse at both the community and European level is considered adequate, as it is included in various conventions and laws, while it is also protected nationally. Direct threats to the species are not considered significant, likely due to its nocturnal lifestyle.