The
rodent family
Platacanthomyidae, or
Oriental dormice, includes the
spiny dormice and the
Chinese pygmy dormice. In spite of their appearance, these animals are not true
dormice, but are part of the large and complex
superfamily Muroidea. The platacanthomyids can be distinguished from the true dormice, because they have no
premolars, giving them three cheek teeth, like their relatives, the Muroidea.