Work

A rare case of intraspecific killing by an adult garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Although intraspecific conflict is a well-known behaviour in mammals, intraspecific killing among dormice (Gliridae) is very rare in literature. In December 2021, a garden dormouse ( Eliomys quercinus ) entered a nestbox equipped with a camera and was filmed killing a conspecific male adult in the city of Wiesbaden (Germany). As this incident happened outside the mating season and the killed animal was not even partly consumed, territorial behaviour is a possible explanation for this case. In conclusion, it seems that our observation is a very rare one and the first one in the garden dormouse.

Source: European Journal of Wildlife Research

DOI: 10.1007/s10344-025-01918-3

Authors: Johannes Lang, Eva Marie Kramer, Susanne Schneider, Holger Meinig, Sven Büchner

Institutions: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz

Language: English

Topic: Animal Behavior and Reproduction

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,790

Funder: Justus Liebig Universität Gießen