46.

Banana African Climbing Mouse

Dendromus messorius

French: Dendromus des bananiers / German: Bananenklettermaus / Spanish: Ratén trepador africano de bananera

Other common names: Banana Climbing Mouse

Taxonomy. Dendromys messorius Thomas, 1903,

“ Efulen, Bulu Country, Cameroons [= Cameroon].”

Dendromus messorius is in urgent need of taxonomic revision. Monotypic.

Distribution. Disjunct range in Ghana, Togo, Benin, SE Nigeria, Cameroon, extreme S South Sudan, NE DR Congo, SE Uganda, and W Kenya; limits uncertain.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 57-70 mm, tail 78-95 mm, ear 11-14 mm, hindfoot 16-20 mm; weight 7-10 g. The Banana African Climbing Mouse is small, with very long prehensile tail. Tail is darker above than below. Furis long, soft, and bright rufous-brown dorsally and pure white ventrally. Base of each hair on back is dark gray but white below. There is usually no mid-dorsal stripe, orif present,it is indistinct. Ears are relatively large and rounded. Limbs are adapted for climbing. Second to fourth digits on 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. Various habitats, such as croplands with banana ( Musa, Musaceae) trees, gallery forest, and grassland.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Banana African Climbing Mouse includes green plant material and fruit.

Breeding. A single litter of the Banana African Climbing Mouse had three young. It builds a nest with a single entrance in banana trees and tall grass.

Activity patterns. The Banana African Climbing Mouse is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nests of Banana African Climbing Mice are apparently occupied by one individual.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Denys & Aniskine (2012), Denys, Missoup, Nicolas et al. (2014), Denys, Missoup, Tchiengue et al. (2009), Dieterlen (2009), Happold (2013f), Hatt (1940), Lavrenchenko et al. (2017), Matthey (1970), Monadjem et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nicolas, Natta et al. (2010), Robbins & Van der Straeten (1996), Rosevear (1969), Verheyen & Verschuren (1966).