Recent range and distribution of dormice (Gliridae, Mammalia) in the Sudetes (Poland)

Abstract

The paper presents updated information on the occurrence of dormice in the Polish Sudetes, based on our 1993-2008 field studies in various parts of the region, and on the results of other studies conducted and published after 1983. The studies confirmed the occurrence of 3 dormice species in the Sudetes: edible dormouse Glis glis LINNAEUS, 1766, hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius LINNAEUS, 1758, and forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula PALLAS, 1778. The edible dormouse occurs in all 5 macroregions of the Polish Sudetes. It is still fairly abundant in the Central and Eastern Sudetes, while it is quite rare in the Western Sudetes. The hazel dormouse is much less common, being slightly more abundant in some ranges of Central Sudetes (Bardzkie and Sto3owe Mts, and the Landscape Park of Wa3brzych Sudetes), and Eastern Sudetes (the Z3ote Mts and the Snie?nik Massif). The occurence of the forest dormouse is limited to the Sudete Foreland (Strzelinskie Hills) and small parts of the Central (Sto3owe Mts) and Eastern Sudetes (Z3ote and Bialskie Mts, Œnie?nik Massif), where all three species co-occur. Not a single locality of the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus LINNAEUS, 1766 was found, which points to its disappearance from the Polish Sudetes.