Nyika climbing mouse
| Nyika climbing mouse | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dendromus nyikae | ||||||||||||
| Wroughton , 1909 |
The Nyika climbing mouse ( Dendromus nyikae ) is a rodent in the genus of African climbing mice .
features
With a head-trunk length of 50 to 78 mm, a tail length of 80 to 93 mm and a weight of 11 to 18 g, the species is a small representative of its genus. It has hind feet 11 to 19 mm long and ears 11 to 18 mm long. The hair on the top is gray near the root and cinnamon-colored at the tips. The gray sections are partially visible. A black line of eel extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail. In some copies it can be indistinct or interrupted. On the underside there is mainly cream colored fur. Some individuals have a yellowish or reddish shade on the throat and chest. The head is characterized by a black spot on the forehead and by small white spots in front of the ears. The brown ears are covered with fine hair. Like other members of the genus, the Nyika climbing mouse has an elongated fifth toe on the hind foot that is opposable . In contrast to other African climbing mice, this toe is equipped with a nail . The first toe, on the other hand, is small. The tail is predominantly scaled with short, bright bristles. Longer hairs appear only on the tip.
distribution
The distribution area extends from the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as from the south of Tanzania via Angola , Malawi , Zambia , Zimbabwe and the west of Mozambique to the northeast of South Africa . An isolated population lives in central Tanzania. The Nyika climbing mouse lives in the lowlands and in mountains up to 2200 meters above sea level. The species can be found in landscapes that are formed as a mosaic of forests, small groups of trees and grassy areas. The Nyika climbing mouse avoids open areas with grass species of the genera Hyparrhenia and bluegrass , but prefers an undergrowth of tall grass in forests.
Way of life
With their special feet and long tail used for balancing, the species is well adapted for climbing in tall grass. To eat, the fruit cluster of the grass is bitten off in order to better reach the seeds. The diet is completed with insects such as beetles.
One female was pregnant with four embryos in November . Another female had active mammary glands in August. Remains of the Nyika climbing mouse could often be found in the arch of the African grass owl ( Tyto capensis ).
threat
Fires can severely decimate a local population. No other threats to the population are known. The IUCN lists the Nyika climbing mouse as Least Concern .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Dendromus nyikae ).
- ↑ a b c d Jonathan Kingdon (Ed.): Mammals of Africa . III, Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. A&C Black, 2014, p. 181-182 ( Dendromus nyikae ).
- ↑ a b Dendromus nyikae in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: Cassola, F., 2016. Retrieved on 1 August 2020th