Dendromus

Dendromus mystacalis

The African climbing mice or Aalstrich climbing mice ( Dendromus ) are the most common and best-known genus of tree mice ( Dendromurinae ).

Is characteristic for most species, a single black longitudinal stripes on its back; An exception is the Lovat climbing mouse that has three stripes. Otherwise, the coat is gray or brown on the upper side and lower side white or yellowish. The body length varies between 5 and 10 cm, added a 7 to 13 cm long tail.

Species

The number of species varies according to the doctrine. While originally 28 species have been described, Bohmann summarized these in 1942 to only four species together. Since then, different types of lists have been presented by different authors. The following list cites Nowak 1999:

• Subgenus Chortomys Lovat climbing mouse, Dendromus Lovati, Ethiopia

• Nyika climbing mouse, Dendromus nyikae, Central and South Africa
• Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis, the whole of Africa south of the Sahara

• Cameroon - climbing mouse, Dendromus oreas, Cameroon
• Brant climbing mouse, Dendromus mesomelas, Eastern and Southern Africa
• Kivu climbing mouse, Dendromus nyasae, Rwenzori Mountains
• Vernay - climbing mouse, vernayi Dendromus, Angola
• Mountain - climbing mouse, Dendromus insignis, East Africa
• Chestnut Climbing Mouse Dendromus mystacalis, Eastern, Central and Southern Africa
• Banana climbing mouse, Dendromus messorius, West, Central and East Africa
• Kahuzi Climbing Mouse, Dendromus kahuziensis, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Way of life

The climbing mice are most likely to be compared with the Dormouse. They prefer the open savannah as a habitat, with shrubs and / or trees must be present. Only the Chestnut Climbing Mouse inhabits dense forests. Derogation is also the Lovat climbing mouse, showing no inclination to climb and spend life on the ground.

As nocturnal animals climbing mice slept through the day either in underground construction ( subgenera Chortomys and Poemys ) or in spherical nests from plant parts that are applied in shrubs or trees ( subgenus Dendromus ). Occasionally, abandoned nests of weaver birds or nectar birds are repossessed, and the common Aalstrich climbing mouse builds its nest on thatched roofs or in gutters. At night, they move with agility through the branches and look for seeds, berries and insects and also eat eggs from birds' nests.

While most species are very common, this is not true for the Kahuzi and the Vernay - climbing mouse. The Vernay - climbing mouse has not been sighted again since its first description in 1937, and about the status of this kind can not know anything. The Kahuzi Climbing Mouse is known only from two specimens, both of which originate from Mount Kahuzi in the Rwenzori Mountains; this type is performed threatened by the IUCN as strong.