Dendromus lovati (de Winton, 1900)
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6600357 |
|
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6600297 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03993828-FFFD-0F46-FA39-F4DACEE6FBF8 |
|
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
|
scientific name |
Dendromus lovati |
| status |
|
Lovat’s African Climbing Mouse
French: Dendromus de Lovat / German: Lovat-Klettermaus / Spanish: Raton trepador africano de Lovat
Other common names: Lovat's Climbing Mouse
Taxonomy. Dendromys lovati de Winton, 1900 ,
Managasha , near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dendromus lovati was previously placed in its own subgenus Chortomys , but a recent molecular study showed that it is part of the Dendromus s.s. subgenus. Hence, its morphological distinctiveness is due to adaptations to its unique environment and unrelated to its phylogenetic history. Monotypic.
Distribution. High-elevation regions of Ethiopia. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head—body 57-95 mm,tail 57-87 mm, ear 15-18 mm, hindfoot 17-20 mm; weight 11-23 g. Lovat’s African Climbing Mouse is small, with very long prehensile tail but relatively short for a species of Dendromus . Fur is long, soft, and grayish-brown dorsally and grayish ventrally. Base of each hair is dark gray. There are three mid-dorsalstripes. Ears are relatively large and rounded. Limbs are adapted for climbing. Second to fourth digits of forelimbs have elongated claws, and first and fifth digits greatly reduced. Hindlimb has second to fourth digits elongated,fifth digit long and opposable with a claw, and first digit greatly reduced.
Habitat. Grasslands above elevations of 2500 m and heathlands above 3300 m.
Food and Feeding. No information.
Breeding. Lovat’s African Climbing Mouse apparently builds a grass nest under boulders.
Activity patterns. Lovat’s African Climbing Mouse appears to be nocturnal, and typically, few individuals are captured in suitable habitat. Based on reduced captures during the cooler months, it has been proposed that it hibernates. Unlike other species of Dendromus ,it appears to be mostly terrestrial.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Bekele & Yalden (2013), Denys & Aniskine (2012), Girma et al. (2012), Lavrenchenko et al. (2017), Monadjem et al. (2015), Sillero-Zubiri et al. (1995a), Yalden (2013b), Yalden & Largen (1992), Yalden, Largen & Kock (1976), Yalden, Largen, Kock & Hillman (1996).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
