Lachaise climbing mouse
| Lachaise climbing mouse | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dendromus lachaisei | ||||||||||||
| Denys & Aniskine , 2012 |
The Lachaise climbing mouse ( Dendromus lachaisei ) is a little researched rodent from the genus of the African climbing mice ( Dendromus ). It was discovered in 1957 by Maxime Lamotte (1920–2007) on Mont Richard-Molard and described scientifically in 2012 by Christiane Denys and Vladimir Aniskine. The type epithet refers to the entomologist Daniel Lachaise (1947-2006), who was honored for his research work in western Central Africa .
features
The Lachaise climbing mouse reaches a head-torso length of 55 to 78 mm, a tail length 79 to 98 mm, an ear length of 10 to 13 mm, a hind foot length of 15 to 19 mm and a weight of approximately 11 g. The Lachaise climbing mouse is a small species with a long prehensile tail. The long, soft fur is light ocher brown on the top and pure white on the underside. The base of the fur hair is dark gray. There is no eel line or back stripe. 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 and habitat
The Lachaise climbing mouse is found in southeastern Guinea , Liberia, and the Ivory Coast . It inhabits a variety of different habitats, including grasslands, savannas, secondary forests and cultivated land usually at altitudes between 50 and 600 m. The permanent proximity to water seems to be important for the species.
Way of life
Little is known about the way of life. The Lachaise climbing mouse apparently builds nests of grass. A female with four embryos was caught in the rainy season.
status
The Lachaise climbing mouse was included in the “ data deficient ” category in the Red List of Threatened Species in 2016 . The species is considered rare in its entire range. The first descriptors expressed concerns about the possible pressure on Mont Richard-Molard from mining and the associated human activities. However, there are no known threats to the species in the rest of the distribution area.
literature
- Christiane Denys, Vladimir Aniskine: On a new species of Dendromus (Rodentia, Nesomyidae) from Mount Nimba, Guinea. Mammalia 76, 2012, pp. 295-308
- 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. 198
Web links
- Dendromus lachaisei inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.3. Posted by: P. Engelbrektsson, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2018.