Dendromus oreas, Osgood, 1936

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Nesomyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 156-203 : 198

45.

Cameroon African Climbing Mouse

Dendromus oreas

French: Dendromus du Cameroun / German: Kamerun-Klettermaus / Spanish: Raton trepador africano de Camerun

Other common names: Cameroon Climbing Mouse

Taxonomy. Dendromus oreas Osgood, 1936 ,

“southwest side of Mount Cameroon , Cameroon Mandate, British Nigeria. Alt. 9,000 ft [= 2743 m].” .

Previously, oreas was included as a subspecies of D. mesomelas . Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to W Cameroon Mts (Manenguba, Kupé, and Cameroon Mts).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 60-74 mm, tail 89-104 mm, ear 13-19 mm, hindfoot 18-21 mm; weight 9-13 g. The Cameroon African Climbing Mouse is small, with very long prehensile tail. Tail is bicolored, darker above and paler below. Fur is long, soft, and brown or reddish brown dorsally and rufous or grayish ventrally. Base of each hair is dark gray. Indistinct black line runs mid-dorsally from mid-back to base oftail. 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 are greatly reduced. Hindlimb has second to fourth digits elongated, fifth digit long and opposable with a claw, and first digit greatly reduced.

Habitat. Montane grasslands and savannas at elevations of ¢.850-2900 m. The Cameroon African Climbing Mouse lives on the ground among boulders of lava (Mount Cameroon), dry grassy and scrubby slopes (Mount Manenguba), and plantations and farmlands (Mount Kupé).

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. A pregnant female captured in late November had five embryos.

Activity patterns. The Cameroon African Climbing Mouse is nocturnal. It is terrestrial but also an agile climber.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Cameroon African Climbing Mouse has a very restricted distribution on just three mountain ranges, but no specific conservation threats are known.

Bibliography. Denys & Aniskine (2012), Denys, Missoup, Nicolas et al. (2014), Denys, Missoup, Tchiengue et al. (2009), Dieterlen (2013d), Eisentraut (1963), Monadjem et al. (2015), Rosevear (1969).

Figures

1. White-tailed Tree Rat (Brachytarsomys albicauda), 2. Hairy-tailed Tree Rat (Brachytarsomys villosus), 3. Sleek-furred Ground Rat (Gymnuromys robert), 4. Antsingy Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus antsingy), 5. Carleton’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus carletoni), 6. Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat (Elurus daniels), 7. Ellerman’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus ellermani), 8. Grandidier’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus grandidieri), 9. Major's Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus majori), 10. Lesser Tufted-taill Rat (Elurus minor), 11. Milne-Edwards’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus myoxinus), 12. White-tailed Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus penicillatus), 13. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus petteri), 14. Tanala Tufted-taill Rat (Elwurus tanala), 15. Webb's Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus webbi), 16. Anjozorobe Naked-tail Forest Mouse (Voalavo antsahabensis), 17. Northern Naked-tail Forest Mouse (Voalavo gymnocaudus), 18. Bastard’s Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys bastardi), 19. Ankarafantsika Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys ingens), 20. Petter’s Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys peter), 21. Koopman' ’ s Forest Mouse (Monticolomys koopmani), 22. Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena), 23. Small Short-tailed Rat (Brachywromys betsileoensis), 24. Large Short-tailed Rat (Brachyuromys ramirohitra), 25. Audebert’s Forest Rat (Nesomys audeberti), 26. Lamberton’s Forest Rat (Nesomys lambertoni), 27. Red Forest Rat (Nesomys rufus), 28. Delany’s Swamp Mouse (Delanymys brooksi), 29. African White-tailed Rat (Mystromys albicaudatus), 30. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus shortridger), 31. Short-eared Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus monticularis), 32. Barbour’s Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus barbouri), 33. Common Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus collinus)

Distribution. Endemic to W Cameroon Mts (Manenguba, Kupé, and Cameroon Mts).