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- Dendromus melanotis Smith, 1834
Dendromus melanotis Smith, 1834
Order: Rodentia > Family: Nesomyidae > Genus: Dendromus > Species: Dendromus melanotis Smith, 1834
Common Name: Gray African Climbing Mouse [English]
Type Description
Smith, A. 1833-1834. An epitome of African Zoology; or, a concise description of the objects of the animal Kingdom inhabiting Africa, its islands and seas. South African Quarterly Journal, 2:16-32, 49-64, 81-96, 113-128, 145-160, 169-192, 209-224, 233-248.
Type Locality
South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Prov., near Port Natal (Durban).
Measurements
Total length: 180-206 mm
Head and body: 57-73 mm
Tail length: 65-80 mm
Hindfoot length: 16-19 mm
Ear length: 11-16 mm
Weight: 7-8 g
Head and body: 57-73 mm
Tail length: 65-80 mm
Hindfoot length: 16-19 mm
Ear length: 11-16 mm
Weight: 7-8 g
Description
These small rodents are excellent climbers and are noted for the black stripe (sometimes faint...rub the back from front to rear to see the stripe more easily), long tail and three fingers on the front foot. Look for an opposable toe on the back foot.
Distribution
The most successful of the Dendromus species, D. melanotis is found in tall grasses and shrubby secondary growth throughout the African savannas south of the Sahara. (Kingdon, 1984, 1997)
Key References
1. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Hares and Rodents). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2B:528-535.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 197.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1344-1346, 1485-1488.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 197.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1344-1346, 1485-1488.