Mountain climbing mouse

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Mountain climbing mouse
Systematics
Subordination : Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Nesomyidae
Subfamily : Tree mice (Dendromurinae)
Genre : African climbing mice ( Dendromus )
Type : Mountain climbing mouse
Scientific name
Dendromus insignis
( Thomas , 1903)

The mountain climbing mouse ( Dendromus insignis ) is a rodent from the genus of the African climbing mice ( Dendromus ).

features

With a head-to-trunk length of 78 to 92 mm, the mountain climbing mouse is one of the largest species of African climbing mice. The tail length is 82 to 111 mm, the ear length 12 to 18 mm, the hind foot length 20 to 23 mm and the weight is 12 to 17 g. The mountain climbing mouse has a very long two-tone prehensile tail that is darker on top and lighter on the bottom. The long soft fur is brown or reddish brown on the top and dark gray or gray on the underside. A black line of eel runs from the neck to the base of the tail . The ears are relatively large and rounded. The limbs are adapted for climbing. The second to fourth toes of the forelimbs have elongated claws. The first and fifth toes of the forelimbs are greatly reduced. In the hind limbs, the second to fourth toes are elongated, the fifth toe is long and can be opposed with a claw. The first toe is greatly reduced.

distribution

The mountain climbing mouse is found in the mountainous regions of East Africa , particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , western Uganda , Rwanda , southern Kenya and the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania .

habitat

The mountain climbing mouse inhabits mountain grassland, moist grassland and herbaceous vegetation at altitudes above 1500 m as well as marshland at altitudes between 3000 and 4700 m.

Way of life

The mountain climbing mouse is nocturnal with the highest activity between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. It lives on the ground but is also an agile climber. With its well-adapted hind feet and long prehensile tail, it climbs branches and blades of grass. The mountain climbing mouse builds small grass nests or uses small bird nests. The clutch consists of one to seven young, on average there are four. The diet consists of large seeds and insects. Predators are capoos and leopards .

status

The IUCN classifies the mountain climbing mouse in the “ Least Concern” category. No major threats are currently known, however farming on the Mau Escarpment in Kenya could pose a future threat to the species.

literature

  • Andrei Miljutin: African Climbing Mice (Dendromus, Muroidea) and Palaearctic Birch Mice (Sicista, Dipodoidea): An Example of Parallel Evolution Among Rodents . Acta Zoologica Lituanica. 16 (2), 2006, pp. 84-92. doi : 10.1080 / 13921657.2006.10512714
  • Ara Monadjem , Steven M. Goodman : Family Nesomyidae (Pouched Rat, Climbing Mice and Fat Mice) In: Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 7: Rodents II , Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2017, ISBN 978-84-16728-04-6 , p. 199

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