Leithia

Leithia is an extinct genus of giant dormice from the Pleistocene of the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Sicily. It is considered an example of island gigantism. Leithia melitensis is the largest known species of dormouse, living or extinct, being twice the size of any other known species.

Leithia
Temporal range:
Skeleton of Lethia melitensis
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Gliridae
Subfamily: Leithiinae
Genus: Leithia
Lydekker, 1896
Type species
Myoxus melitensis
Adams, 1863
species
  • Leithia melitensis (Adams, 1863)
  • Leithia cartei (Adams, 1863)
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