page_title: Cameroon scaly-tail
section_title: Morphology
hierarchical_section_title: Cameroon scaly-tail / Morphology
caption_attribution_description: English: Evolutionary Studies, Genetics , Paleontology, Taxonomy, Zoology
context_page_description: The Cameroon scaly-tail, also referred to as the Cameroon anomalure, flightless anomalure or flightless scaly-tail, is a rodent species endemic to West Central Africa. The scientific literature has never reported observations of live individuals. The taxonomic classification of the species has been subject to recent revision.
context_section_description: The anomalures, including Z. insignis, are unique among rodents in having a set of scales on the ventral surface of the base of the tail. These scales reportedly provide traction when climbing trees. Z. insignis is the only anomalure that lacks patagia (membranes that span between the forelimbs and hindlimbs). Anomalures that possess patagia are able to glide between trees. Thus, Z. insignis is unable to glide. The divergence of the Z. insignis lineage from other extant anomalures apparently occurred before the evolution of anomalure gliding. Gliding is a relatively rare adaptation that has independently evolved in three lineages of extant placental mammals (anomalures, colugos, and flying squirrels). Z. insignis has ashy-grey pelage and bushy black tail hair. Tufts of short, course, and spikey hairs are located on the lateral ankles. The hands and feet have four and five digits respectively. Pedal digit I (the first toe) is somewhat divergent.
  Z. insignis molars are distinct from other extant anomalures in having a continuous enamel crest that, in occlusal view, forms a full perimeter around the tooth and a single transverse crest divides the occlusal surface into two basins. The fossilized molars of Z. wintoni and P. saharaensis also have these features and the lineage's tooth morphology is essentially unchanged since the early Oligocene. In mammals, dental morphology is an excellent indicator of the animal's diet; it therefore seems that the lineage has retained the same dietary niche for at least 31 million years. Sole survivorship of an ancient lineage combined with the retention of morphology are characteristics which identify Z. insignis as a ‘living fossil’. However, some biologists have questioned the usefulness of this popular term.
caption: Photographs of a male museum specimen.
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