Genus of rodents
Climbing mice
Temporal range: Late Miocene - Recent |
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Chestnut climbing mouse, (Dendromus mystacalis) |
Scientific classification |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Nesomyidae |
Subfamily: | Dendromurinae |
Genus: | Dendromus A. Smith, 1829 |
Species |
Dendromus insignis Dendromus kahuziensis Dendromus leucostomus Dendromus lachaisei Dendromus lovati Dendromus melanotis Dendromus mesomelas Dendromus messorius Dendromus mystacalis Dendromus nyasae Dendromus nyikae Dendromus oreas Dendromus ruppi Dendromus vernayi |
Mice in the genus Dendromus are commonly referred to as African climbing mice or tree mice, although these terms are often used to describe all members of the subfamily Dendromurinae. The genus is currently restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, but fossils classified in the genus have been found from Late Miocene deposits in Arabia and Europe.
Characteristics
Mice in the genus Dendromus are small (Head and body: 5–10 cm) with relatively long tails (6–13 cm). This tail is semi-prehensile and provides an aid in climbing. The dense fur is grey or brown and either one or two stripes are present on the back. Unlike most other muroids, these mice have only three fingers on each hand. They are also distinguished by their grooved incisors.
Natural history
Habitat varies widely. Elevation ranges from sea-level to 4300 m. Anecdotal evidence suggests they are arboreal, but data supporting this hypothesis are limited. They do appear to be good climbers and the degree to which they spend time in trees seems to vary by species.
Species
Genus Dendromus - Climbing mice
- Montane African climbing mouse, Dendromus insignis
- Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse, Dendromus kahuziensis
- Lachaise's climbing mouse, Dendromus lachaisei
- Monard's African climbing mouse, Dendromus leucostomus
- Lovat's climbing mouse, Dendromus lovati
- Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis
- Brants's climbing mouse, Dendromus mesomelas
- Banana climbing mouse, Dendromus messorius
- Chestnut climbing mouse, Dendromus mystacalis
- Kivu climbing mouse, Dendromus nyasae (kivu)
- Nyika climbing mouse, Dendromus nyikae
- Cameroon climbing mouse, Dendromus oreas
- Rupp's African climbing mouse, Dendromus ruppi
- Vernay's climbing mouse, Dendromus vernayi
References
- Denys, C. and V. Aniskine. 2012. On a new species of Dendromus (Rodentia, Nesomyidae) from Mount Nimba, Guinea. Mammalia, 76:295–308.
- McKenna, Malcolm C., and Bell, Susan K. 1997. Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, New York, 631 pp. ISBN 0-231-11013-8
- Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp. 894–1531 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
- Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
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Petromyscinae | Petromyscus (Rock mice) | - Barbour's rock mouse (Petromyscus barbouri)
- Pygmy rock mouse (Petromyscus collinus)
- Brukkaros pygmy rock mouse (Petromyscus monticularis)
- Shortridge's rock mouse (Petromyscus shortridgei)
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Delanymyinae | |
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Dendromurinae | Dendromus (African climbing mice) | - Montane African climbing mouse (Dendromus insignis)
- Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse (Dendromus kahuziensis)
- Lachaise's climbing mouse (Dendromus lachaisei)
- Monard's African climbing mouse (Dendromus leucostomus)
- Lovat's climbing mouse (Dendromus lovati)
- Gray climbing mouse (Dendromus melanotis)
- Brant's climbing mouse (Dendromus mesomelas)
- Banana climbing mouse (Dendromus messorius)
- Chestnut climbing mouse (Dendromus mystacalis)
- Kivu climbing mouse (Dendromus nyasae)
- Nyika climbing mouse (Dendromus nyikae)
- Cameroon climbing mouse (Dendromus oreas)
- Rupp's African climbing mouse (Dendromus ruppi)
- Vernay's climbing mouse (Dendromus vernayi)
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Dendroprionomys | - Velvet climbing mouse (Dendroprionomys rousseloti)
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Malacothrix | - Gerbil mouse (Malacothrix typica)
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Megadendromus | - Nikolaus's mouse (Megadendromus nikolausi)
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Prionomys | - Dollman's tree mouse (Prionomys batesi)
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Steatomys | - Bocage's African fat mouse (Steatomys bocagei)
- Northwestern fat mouse (Steatomys caurinus)
- Dainty fat mouse (Steatomys cuppedius)
- Jackson's fat mouse (Steatomys jacksoni)
- Krebs's fat mouse (Steatomys krebsii)
- Pousargues's African fat mouse (Steatomys opimus)
- Tiny fat mouse (Steatomys parvus)
- Fat mouse (Steatomys pratensis)
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Mystromyinae | Mystromys | - White-tailed rat (Mystromys albicaudatus)
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Cricetomyinae (Pouched rats) | Beamys | - Lesser hamster-rat (Beamys hindei)
- Greater hamster-rat (Beamys major)
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Cricetomys | - Southern giant pouched rat (Cricetomys ansorgei)
- Emin's pouched rat (Cricetomys emini)
- Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus)
- Kivu giant pouched rat (Cricetomys kivuensis)
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Saccostomus | - South African pouched mouse (Saccostomus campestris)
- Mearns's pouched mouse (Saccostomus mearnsi)
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Nesomyinae (Malagasy rats and mice) | Brachytarsomys | |
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Brachyuromys | - Betsileo short-tailed rat (Brachyuromys betsileoensis)
- Gregarious short-tailed rat (Brachyuromys ramirohitra)
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Eliurus | - Tsingy tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus antsingy)
- Ankarana Special Reserve tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus carletoni)
- Daniel's tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus danieli)
- Ellerman's tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus ellermani)
- Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus grandidieri)
- Major's tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus majori)
- Lesser tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus minor)
- Dormouse tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus myoxinus)
- White-tipped tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus penicillatus)
- Petter's tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus petteri)
- Tanala tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus tanala)
- Webb's tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus webbi)
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Gymnuromys | - Voalavoanala (Gymnuromys roberti)
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Hypogeomys | |
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Macrotarsomys | - Bastard big-footed mouse (Macrotarsomys bastardi)
- Greater big-footed mouse (Macrotarsomys ingens)
- Petter's big-footed mouse (Macrotarsomys petteri)
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Monticolomys | - Koopman's montane voalavo (Monticolomys koopmani)
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Nesomys | - White-bellied nesomys (Nesomys audeberti)
- Western nesomys (Nesomys lambertoni)
- Nesomys narindaensis
- Island mouse (Nesomys rufus)
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Voalavo | - Eastern voalavo (Voalavo antsahabensis)
- Northern voalavo (Voalavo gymnocaudus)
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Category |
Taxon identifiers |
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Dendromus | |
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