Platacanthomyidae

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Platacanthomyidae (Chinese pygmy dormice, spiny dormice; order Rodentia, suborder Myomorpha) A family of arboreal mice which resemble dormice but have long, bushy tails. They are sometimes referred to the Muridae as a subfamily. The first digit of the fore limb is reduced to a pad, and the hind feet are elongated. There are two species, in two genera. In Platacanthomys (spiny dormouse) the fur is spiny. In Typhlomys (Chinese pygmy dormouse) the eyes are very small, the fur is soft, and the tail is poorly haired, and scaly at its base. They are found only in southern India and southern China.