Velvet climbing mouse

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Velvet climbing mouse
Systematics
Subordination : Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Nesomyidae
Subfamily : Tree mice (Dendromurinae)
Genre : Dendroprionomys
Type : Velvet climbing mouse
Scientific name of the  genus
Dendroprionomys
Petter , 1966
Scientific name of the  species
Dendroprionomys rousseloti
Petter , 1966

The velvet climbing mouse ( Dendroprionomys rousseloti ) is a rare rodent belonging to the tree mice subfamily . It is the only species in the genus Dendroprionomys . Only eight specimens of this mouse are known to date, all of which were found in the Brazzaville Zoological Garden .

The first description of the species was made in 1966 by Francis Petter on the basis of three specimens that were found in a bamboo thicket . The holotype of this species has a head-trunk length of 77 mm and a tail length of 108 mm. The long tail is believed to be used for grasping. The short, dense and soft fur is brown on the top and light gray to white on the underside. The head also has a brown top and a white bottom. A black-brown line stretches from the muzzle to the eyes on each side.

The thumb is missing on the hands and the fifth finger is also small. The existing fingers have short claws. On the feet, the first toe is small and the fifth toe is opposable . The toes, with the exception of the first, have long claws.

Due to the structure of the teeth, it is assumed that the velvet climber feeds on insects .

The Brazzaville Zoo is located in a forest on a sandy ground about 300 meters above sea level. It is believed that the species is also found off-site. The IUCN lists the species under “too little data available” ( data deficient ).

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