Dendromys melanotis A. Smith 1834
Creators: name: Wilson, Don E.
name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Nesomyidae
Dendromys
Dendromys melanotis

description: 56. Gray African Climbing Mouse <i>Dendromus melanotus</i> <b>French:</b> Dendromus gris / <b>German:</b> Graue Klettermaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Raton trepador africano gris <b>Taxonomy.</b> Dendromys melanotis A. Smith, 1834, “ South Africa,—on shrubs near Port Natal.” Dendromus melanotis is in need of revision. It shows significant genetic variation, suggesting a species complex. Records from West Africa have recently been described as a new species, D. lachaisei. Based on recently molecular work, D. melanotis comprises at least four cryptic lineages in South Africa, but taxonomic implications are not yet clear. Furthermore, relationships of outlying populations in Nigeria and perhaps Ethiopia require investigation. Monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> Widespread in S Africa, from SW Angola and NW &amp; E Namibia E to Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, and S to E &amp; S South Africa and Swaziland; isolated populations occur in C Nigeria, SW Uganda, SW Ethiopia, C &amp; S Kenya, and N &amp; S Tanzania. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 50-77 mm, tail 55-96 mm, ear 8-18 mm, hindfoot 12-20 mm; weight 6-15 g. The Gray African Climbing Mouse is small, with long prehensile tail. Tail is darker above than below. Furis long, soft, and brown to grayish-brown dorsally and off-white ventrally. Base of each hair is dark gray. Obvious mid-dorsal stripe extends from neck 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 flattened nail, and first digit greatly reduced. <b>Habitat.</b> Wide range of habitats including stands of tall Hyparrhenia (Poaceae) grassland, short montane grassland, dry Kalahari scrub, fringes of rivers, dry Baikiaea and Isoberlinia (both Fabaceae) woodland, and flood-plains. The Gray African Climbing Mouse can recolonize burnt grasslands within one month offire, but itis typically associated with grasslands of high ecological integrity and therefore may be a good indicator of high-quality grasslands. In East Africa, it is typically associated with dry savanna but also occurs into moist habitats such as marshes and montane forest. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> Poorly known. At one site in South Africa, all examined stomach contents from Gray African Climbing Mice contained seeds and about one-quarter had insects—similar to that reported in East Africa. <b>Breeding.</b> In South Africa, pregnant Gray African Climbing Mice were collected during the rainy season and juveniles when rains had ended. They build grass nests with single entrances, usually attached to a grass stem or shrub close to ground level. They also use burrows. Litter sizes are 2-8 young. <b>Activity patterns.</b> The Gray African Climbing Mouse is nocturnal and apparently predominantly terrestrial, although it can climb. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> The Gray African Climbing Mouse can occur in relatively high numbers in high-elevation grasslands of South Africa, where it has been recorded as the second or third most abundant small mammal species in certain habitats. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. <b>Bibliography.</b> Ansell (1978), Avenant (2011), Avenant &amp; Cavallini (2007), Avery (1987), De Graaff (1981), Denys &amp; Aniskine (2012), Dieterlen (1971), Dippenaar et al. (1983), Goheen et al. (2004), Kerley (1992b), Kingdon (1974), Korn (1992), Lynch (1994), Martin (1985), Mendelsohn (1982), Monadjem et al. (2015), Perrin &amp; Campbell (1980), Rautenbach et al. (2014), Robbins &amp; Baker (1978), Rosevear (1969), Rowe-Rowe (1986), Rowe-Rowe &amp; Lowry (1982), Rowe-Rowe &amp; Meester (1982a, 1982b), Sheppe &amp; Haas (1981), Smithers (1971), Solano et al. (2014), Taylor (1998).
description: Published as part of <i>Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier &amp; Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Nesomyidae, pp. 156-203 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on pages 200-201, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6600357