Coccidian oocysts from feces of 46 individuals of the garden dormouse, Eliomys quercinus (Rodentia: Gliridae), were morphologically and molecularly characterized. Both morphological and sequence data (18S rDNA and ORF 470) showed low variability, indicating that all samples represent a single species. By comparison with published morphological descriptions of coccidia from glirid rodents, we determined that the samples represent Eimeria myoxi. Molecular data suggest that this species does not fall within the 2 known rodent-specific groups but branches as a third independent lineage. However, its exact position in respect to other eimerian clusters could not be established due to the lack of phylogenetic information at this taxonomic level for the 18S rRNA and ORF 470 genes. Based on these results, we provide a re-description of Eimeria myoxi, which contains morphological and molecular characteristics sufficient for its further unequivocal identification.

Annual local survival of the garden dormouse Elyomis quercinus, a small, hibernating rodent, was studied by Cormack–Jolly–Seber models. The survival rates differed significantly between the 4 years of the study; the average rate was 0.38 (95% confidence interval: 0.25–0.52). Survival rates were not significantly different between sexes. Because all garden dormice were captured after weaning, pre-weaning survival could not be estimated. After weaning, the annual survival rates did not differ between age cohorts. In order to find out which phases within the annual cycle were more prone to mortality, survival was studied on a bimonthly scale as well. Survival during hibernation was estimated to be close to unity, while survival during the active phase of life in summer was considerably lower. The winter temperatures of the study years were similar to the long-year average; thus garden dormice were well adapted to these average conditions. Although hibernation is energetically challenging, it is not necessarily accompanied by increased mortality, as found in other studies focusing on survival during hibernation.