Graphiurus fossil map
Where fossils of Graphiurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 7.246 million years ago to the present (Messinian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Gliridae |
| Named by | Smuts 1832 |
| Fossil records | 24 occurrences at 8 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | South Africa, CĂ´te d'Ivoire, Kenya, Zambia |
| Rock formations | txn:41578, Makapansgat, Kromdraai, Kapthurin, Varswater |
About Graphiurus
The African dormice (genus Graphiurus) are dormice that live throughout sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails. They primarily eat invertebrates, with other components of their diet including small vertebrates, fruit, nuts and eggs. They represent the most diverse living genus of dormice, making up half of all living species.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Graphiurus (revision 1346598488), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q385877.
