The montane African climbing mice have short, soft brown to reddish-brown pelage[3] with a dark stripe down the middle of their backs and dark gray or grayish underparts.[2] They have tails that can equal up to 133% of their head and body length, which taper and are covered in scales and short hair.[4]
Montane African climbing mice have a typical mymorphous zygomatic arch with a narrow infraorbital foramen, due to the prominence of the lower anterior-positioned masseter muscles—resulting in only three molars in a row and grooved upper incisors.[4]
The hind limbs of the montane African climbing mouse are elongated, with hind feet highly specialized for climbing. D. insignis have a reduced inner proximal foot pad, and a reduced first digit with a nail.[4]
The montane African climbing mouse is one of the largest species of the genus Dendromus, with head and body length ranges from 76 mm to 90 mm and weigh from 7-20 g,[5] up to 20% larger than other Dendromus species. Additionally, their head is relatively large compared to other genera of rodents, making up about 27% of their head and body length[4] and resulting in longer molar rows.[2]
Ecology
Behavior and Diet
The montane African climbing mouse avoids predation by being nocturnal, using its well-adapted hind feet to climb twigs and dense grasses and its long hindlimbs to produce long jumps of up to 45 cm.[4] Its climbing agility is used to contribute to its insectivorous and granivorous diet, and allows for nests to be above ground.[4]
Range and Habitat
Its home range of extends through mountainous areas but they generally dwell in heath and alpine zones.[6] They have been documented across a wide range of high altitude locales, including elevations as high as 4240 m.[5] Below 2000 m, grassland meets the montane forest, and D. insignis is less commonly found, as easy-to-climb dense vegetation is reduced.[7]
^ abcReeder, Don (2005). Mammal Species of the World : A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (12 ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press. p. 937.
^Dieterlen, Fritz (2005). "Climbing mice of the genus Dendromus (Nesomyidae, Dendromurinae) in Sudan and Ethiopia, with the description of a new species". Bonner Zoologische Beiträge. 56: 185–200.
^ abcdefMiljutin, Andrei (2006). "African Climbing Mice (, Muroidea) and Palaearctic Birch Mice (, Dipodoidea): An Example of Parallel Evolution Among Rodents". Acta Zoologica Lituanica. 16 (2): 84–92. doi:10.1080/13921657.2006.10512714.
^Clausnitzer, V.; Kityo, R. (2012). "Altitudinal distribution of rodents (Muridae and Gliridae) on Mt Elgon, Uganda". Tropical Zoology. 14 (1): 95–118. doi:10.1080/03946975.2001.10531145. S2CID84262284.
