Occasionally the fur on the throat and chest is stained by plant or fruit juices. There are variously arranged black and white markings on the face. The top of the tail is usually black or dark brown, and the bottom is whitish. In most forms the tail is well furred. As is the case with many crevice-dwelling mammals, the skull is flattened.
Females have six or eight mammae.
African dormice inhabit forests and, in southern and eastern Africa, rocky areas in the dry tablelands, generally along waterways. They are arboreal but may frequently be found on the ground. They often shelter in trees and shrubs, making their globular nests in cavities and among the branches. Some animals use crevices in cliffs or stone fences, and others live in thatched roofs. They are sometimes found in boxes of rubble or in the upholstery of old furniture in houses and storerooms.